Tokyo chiefs deny claims that Games will be axed

THE International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee have dismissed renewed speculation that the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games are set to be cancelled.

A report claimed the Japanese government has “privately concluded” that the Olympics and Paralympics will have to be called off due to rising coronavirus rates.

The IOC issued a statement in which they referenced the response of the Japanese government in describing the report as “categorically untrue”, adding: “The IOC are fully concentrated on and committed to the successful delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 this year.”

The IPC went further, maintaining that a series of counter-measures, including the rollout of vaccines, have put it in a much stronger position than 10 months ago to stage a successful Games.

The report comes amid mounting uncertainty over the Games, which are due to begin on July 23, with coronavirus rates growing worldwide and much of the wider Tokyo region having been plunged into a State of Emergency earlier this month.

A growing number of figures, including former London 2012 chief executive Sir Keith Mills, have expressed doubts over whether the Games will take place, while athletes are calling for clarity.

The statement by the Japanese government read: “Some news reports circulating today are claiming that the government of Japan has privately concluded that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled because of the coronavirus. This is categorically untrue.

“We will be implementing all possible countermeasures against Covid-19 and will continue to work closely with the IOC, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in our preparations for holding a safe and secure Games this summer.”

The IPC were more bullish in their own statement, describing the advances in preparations since the Games were initially delayed last year.

The IPC said: “Compared to March 2020, we now know much more about how the Covid-19 virus behaves, much more about how to organise safe sport events during a pandemic and are encouraged by the international roll-out of several vaccines.

“There is no doubt the Tokyo 2020 Games will be very different. However, we believe that with the robust measures and plans in place, the Games can and will go ahead safely.”