TOKYO (JAPAN) – Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori told Kyodo News that he did not like the idea of conducting the Games in stadiums without spectators.
The Games were slated to begin this Friday, but the pandemic forced the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government to postpone the event until 2021.
Organisers have been exploring options to permit the Games to go ahead next summer.
Last week, IOC President Thomas Bach had suggested that reduced number of spectators was one option.
Former prime minister Mori said he was eager to avoid this scenario.
“We shouldn’t make spectators go through hard times. Sporting events are all about the whole country empathising,” Mori said on Tuesday, adding that the IOC president’s comments were “assuming the worst case scenario”.
Organisers of the Games will hold talks with government authorities and Tokyo Metropolitan Government in September to explore other options.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field