TOKYO OLYMPICS TO BE SAFE: GOVERNOR

TOKYO: Tokyo Olympics postponed to summer 2021 will be safe despite pandemic, governor of Japanese capital Yuriko Koike said, promising to “mobilize 120%” so that the event can take place .

“Symbol of the victory of humanity over the new Coronavirus”, the Olympics will nevertheless be “simplified” and their cost will be reduced, said in an interview Ms. Koike, 67, who announced Friday that it would be candidate for re-election next month.

“We will organize Games in a safe and serene environment for athletes and spectators from abroad as well as for the inhabitants of Tokyo. And the methods to achieve this goal, whether PCR tests or contact tracing will be decided in the future “after” discussions “between all the organizers.

“I will mobilize 120%” for the Games to take place, smiled Ms. Koike, thus evading a question about the probability according to her that they will actually take place.

In late March, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were postponed to 2021, a first in peacetime.

Since then, Japanese officials and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have made it clear that they will not be pushed back a second time but canceled if the virus still prevents it from being organized safely, as predicted by public health experts.

Japan seems relatively untouched by the pandemic with 924 deaths and 17,382 cases listed to date.

The country has drawn criticism due to the very small number of tests carried out, but the authorities reply that the low mortality testifies to the merits of their strategy.

The country was placed in emergency state in April with the principle of avoiding three situations: closed places, crowds and close contacts, such as close conversations.

Despite the absence of any mandatory character, the state of emergency was respected until its recent lifting, welcomes Ms. Koike. “The people of Tokyo know that the Summer Games will not be possible next year if the impact of the Coronavirus does not weaken”.