Tokyo to explore ‘ simpl ified’ Games

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Thursday it may be necessary to a stage a “simplified” Olympics next year due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and that organizers already were discussing changes. Koike’s comments came after the Yomiuri newspaper reported various options, such as mandatory coronavirus testing and having fewer spectators, were being considered by organizers. John Coates, the head of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) inspectorate for Tokyo, has said organizers had to plan for what could be a

“very different” Olympics if there were no signs of COVID-19 being eradicated. “Holding the Olympic and Paralympic Games calls for sympathy and understanding of Tokyoites and the Japanese people,” Koike said. The Yomiuri, citing government and organizing committee sources, said making Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests mandatory for all spectators — in addition to athletes and staff — and limiting movement in and out of the athletes village were among the options Japan would discuss with the IOC.