The Japanese government has denied information about the allegedly tacit decision to cancel the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Deputy Secretary General of the Government of Japan Manabu Sakai said that the question of holding the Olympics will still be considered. His words are quoted by RIA Novosti.
“I want to categorically refute this as it is not true,” Sakai said.
Sakai added that a decision will be made later on whether to hold the Olympics or not. Until then, however, the government intends to “properly prepare for the conduct,” he concluded.
Earlier, the Times, citing a high-ranking government source, reported that the Japanese authorities tacitly concluded that it was necessary to cancel the Tokyo Olympic Games, postponed to the summer of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The source clarified that Tokyo is looking for an opportunity to announce the cancellation of the Olympics “without losing face”.
Prior to this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) refused to cancel the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The fact that the 2020 Summer Olympics has been postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic became known on March 24. The director of the organizing committee of the Games, Haruyuki Takahashi, admitted the possibility of re-postponing the Olympic Games. At the same time, he stressed that it is impossible to completely cancel the Games, as this will deal a huge blow to the economy of Japan and the world.