Japan Is Ready To Take Risks By Holding The Olympics Next Year

Japanese Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto (Photo: Antara)

JAKARA - The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo are set to be postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whatever the risk, the Land of the Rising Sun will continue to hold it next year.

The Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee made an unusual decision last March when they postponed the Olympics, which were due to take place in June this year to June 2021 because of the coronavirus.

Speaking at a press conference, Japanese Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto emphasized that the Olympics must benefit athletes no matter what challenges the pandemic presents.

"Everyone involved in the Olympics is working together to prepare and the athletes are making extraordinary efforts towards the next year," Hashimoto said as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, September 8.

"I think we have to hold the Olympics at all costs," he continued. "I want to concentrate all our efforts on measures against the coronavirus."

Officials from the Japanese government, the Tokyo city government and the Olympic organizing committee met for the first time last week to develop measures to control COVID-19 at the Games.

In an interview with Reuters in July, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said organizers were already preparing for next year's Olympics even if the global COVID-19 pandemic was not under control.

Organizers have studied about 200 proposals on how best to deal with the virus, including relaxing travel restrictions for foreign athletes, anti-virus measures at Athletes' Village and how to control spectators.