Japan Ensures The Tokyo Olympics Take Place Even Though It Is Still A Pandemic

The logo of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 outbreak (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Tokyo 2020 Olympics president Yoshiro Mori announced Tuesday that Japan will continue to host the Summer Olympics and work closely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make it happen despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation.

"We will hold the Olympics, regardless of how the coronavirus (situation) is going," Mori said during a meeting with the Japan Sports Research Commission.

He added that the discussion should focus on the steps of how the Olympics will be held, not on whether or not it will be held.

"As part of answering that question, we have to consider new ways of hosting the Olympics," Mori said.

Mori added that the difficulties faced during the preparation process actually strengthened the cooperation between the Tokyo 2020 Olympics organizing committee and the IOC.

The 2020 Olympics were postponed last year due to the global spread of COVID-19.

Japan's recent spike in infections that sparked a state of emergency in several regions has sparked speculation about whether a rescheduled Olympics could be held this summer.