Tokyo Olympics could not take place next year amid COVID-19 fears

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe has said that Tokyo Olympics could not take place next year unless the coronavirus pandemic is contained. Japan postponed the Games until July 2021 because of the coronavirus crisis also known as COVID-19.

In his recent statement, Shinzo Abe said  “We’ve been saying the Olympic and Paralympic Games must be held in a complete form, in that athletes and spectators can all participate safely. It would be impossible to hold the Games in such a complete form unless the coronavirus pandemic is contained.”

The International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government last month postponed the Games until July 2021 because of the coronavirus crisis. “From the very beginning of this crisis, we established the principle that the Olympic and Paralympic Games can only be organized in a safe environment for everyone involved. This principle has driven all our decisions so far, and we remain committed to it in the future.”

The prime minister said on Wednesday that the Olympics “must be held in a way that shows the world has won its battle against the coronavirus pandemic,” and cautioned that Japan should “brace for a protracted battle.”

Tokyo confirmed 47 new infections of novel coronavirus also known as COVID-19. The national tally stands at 13,895 infections, including 413 deaths, national broadcaster said. The Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday night that the government was planning to extend the nationwide emergency by about one month and that it would make a final decision after hearing from experts at a meeting on Friday.