Tokyo Olympic Games MUST go ahead in 2021, says Japan minister

‘We have to hold the Games at any cost’: The Tokyo Olympics MUST go ahead in 2021, says Japan minister as organisers step up measures against coronavirus after the pandemic delayed the event until next year

  • The 2021 Games must go ahead no matter what, Japan’s Olympic minister says 
  • The Tokyo event was pushed back to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic 
  •  Seiko Hashimoto said organisers were stepping up efforts against COVID-19

The rearranged Tokyo Games must be held ‘at any cost’ in 2021, Japan’s Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference, Hashimoto said the Games should be held for the benefit of the athletes, regardless of the challenges posed by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee took the unprecedented decision in March to postpone the Games, originally scheduled to begin in July, until 2021 because of the virus.

The Tokyo 2021 Games must go ahead ‘at all costs’, says the country’s Olympics minister 

‘Everyone involved with the Games is working together to prepare, and the athletes are also making considerable efforts towards next year,’ Hashimoto said during a news conference.

‘I think we have to hold the Games at any cost,’ she added.

‘I want to concentrate all our efforts on measures against the coronavirus.’

Officials from the Japanese government, local Tokyo government and the Olympics organising committee met for the first time last week to develop steps to counter the coronavirus at the Games.

Seiko Hashimoto said officials were increasing efforts against COVID-19 to ensure its success

Seiko Hashimoto said officials were increasing efforts against COVID-19 to ensure its success

In an interview with Reuters in July, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said organisers were preparing to host the Games next year even if the global coronavirus pandemic hasn’t eased substantially.

Organisers are looking at over 200 proposals on how best to deal with the virus, including easing travel restrictions for foreign athletes, anti-virus measures at the Athletes’ Village and how to handle spectators.

During his regular press briefing on Tuesday, Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya was not as bullish as Hashimoto about next year’s Games but said things were moving in the right direction.

Organisers are looking at how to manage the virus amid fears it could still affect the 2021 event

Organisers are looking at how to manage the virus amid fears it could still affect the 2021 event

Organisers were encouraged that sports events were being held successfully around the world in recent months and that there was the possibility of more fans being allowed into stadiums for Japanese baseball and soccer games, he added.

‘This has been a big, big encouragement for the staff members of Tokyo 2020,’ said Takaya.

‘We feel that is another step towards … where we can see sports in action in our society.’