TOKYO – Preparations for the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer
are proceeding as usual despite the coronavirus risk, a Japanese
government spokesman said Friday.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confidence in Japan's
handling of the Sars-CoV-2 agent, Japanese government spokesman
Yoshihide Suga said in Tokyo.
It will coordinate closely with the International Olympic Committee,
the organizing committee and the Tokyo city government as the host.
the spokesman added.
Preparations for the games, scheduled to take place from July 24 to
August 9, will continue, Suga said.
Tokyo organizers had stressed last week that the outbreak of the
novel coronavirus in China will not affect the schedules of this
year's Olympics.
But organizers of current sporting events in Japan are taking
precautions.
After the organizers of the Tokyo marathon recently decided that only
top athletes, but not amateurs, will be allowed to participate this
year, the same has now been decided for the women's marathon in
Nagoya.
The city marathon in Nagoya was cancelled entirely.
Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato called on event organizers to
rethink their plans. However, the government has not demanded an
across-the-board cancellation of events.
After discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO), the
International Olympic Committee is convinced that the Tokyo Olympics
do not have to be canceled or relocated due to the coronavirus.
John Coates, chair of the IOC Coordinating Commission, said last week
that "the games will be played in a way that is safe for athletes and
spectators."
The head of the Japanese Olympic Committee, Yoshiro Mori, said a week
ago that planning would not be affected by the new lung disease.
The games have the slogan "United by Emotion". The motto emphasizes
the power of sport to bring people from different backgrounds
together, according to the organizing committee.