JAKARTA - Florida's chief financial officer has asked the IOC's International Olympic Committee to consider moving the 2021 Olympics to the state of the United States amid speculation that Tokyo will resign as host because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Organizing committees in Tokyo have promised to host a rescheduled Olympics, which will open on July 23 after being delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Jimmy Patronis from Florida offered an alternative option.
"There is still time to deploy a site selection team to Florida to meet with local officials and across the relevant states to host the Olympics in the Sunshine State," Patronis said in a letter sent to IOC president Thomas Bach.
"I would welcome this opportunity to apply for Florida and help you to make the right contacts so this can be done."
In an email to Reuters, the IOC said it had not received a letter from Patronis and referred to a statement issued last Friday that it was committed to staging the Olympics in Tokyo this year.
Given the planning and preparation required for the Olympics, it is highly unlikely that relocating the world games will be within six months of the scheduled opening ceremony.
In his letter Patronis highlighted what he called the state's strength in vaccinating and Florida's achievements in hosting a number of sporting events, including last year's entire NBA playoff, during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the corona virus in Florida reached 25,000. Meanwhile, the cumulative death toll due to the virus in Japan reached 5,000 over the weekend.
"Any precautions are necessary, let's find out and implement this," wrote Patronis.
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