IOC ‘confident of a successful Games’

The International Olympic Committee says it is “fully concentrated on delivering the Games” in Tokyo this summer – despite concerns over rising coronavirus cases in Japan.

The Japanese Government has extended its state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas until the end of May, and a recent opinion poll in Japan showed strong support for the Games to be cancelled.

But the IOC executive board met in Lausanne yesterday and spokesperson Mark Adams said the Games – which were postponed last summer because of the pandemic – will take place as planned between July 23 and August 8.

Adams said: “We are now in an implementation phase and fully concentrated on delivering the Games, which you can see by qualification around the world and the Test events that have taken place in Tokyo.

“Of course the IOC, like all organisations, has its insurance policies and so on. But we are fully concentrated on the implementation phase of delivering an excellent Games.”

Games organisers have already taken the decision to prevent overseas spectators from attending.

A decision on how many if any – home fans can

– attend is due to be taken next month, but Japanese tennis players Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori have both expressed concern about staging the Olympics in Tokyo amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in a country where less than 3% of the population has been vaccinated.

IOC president Thomas Bach’s planned visit to Japan this month has been postponed because of the existing state of emergency in the country.

The World Health Organisation suggested in January that athletes should not jump the queue to get Covid-19 vaccinations so they can compete in Tokyo.

Under between a deal struck the IOC and pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, vaccines will be made available to athletes in nations not in a position to prioritise jabs for those heading to the Japanese capital.

The IOC estimates that a “large majority” of athletes staying in the Olympic Village during the Games will have received Covid-19 vaccinations.

Adams added: “We understand the caution of people. We have developed the playbooks (books which outline the Covid-19 rules) to provide a safe and secure Games.

“The figures from our test events in Japan should give Japanese people confidence that these Games can be held in a very safe and secure way.”