PARIS (FRANCE) – In a video message marking the six-month countdown to the opening ceremony of the Olympics, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said the Games movement is united in its determination to make sure the event in Tokyo takes place in July and August.
Britain’s Times reported on Friday that Tokyo was looking to get out of hosting the Games, drawing sharp criticism and flat denials. The Japanese government dismissed the report, while Japan Olympic Committee head Yasuhiro Yamashita said it was a “fabrication” and “wrong”.
Bach did not directly address the Times report, nor mention by name the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the postponement of the Games from last year, but said he was confident that they would go ahead from July 23 to Aug. 8.
“Six months ahead of the Games, the entire Olympic movement is looking forward to the opening ceremony on July 23,” Bach said.
“I had the opportunity today to speak with all the 206 National Olympic Committees of the world and they are all fully committed and looking forward to the Games. We are enjoying the full support of the Japanese government.
“We had another consultation with all the IOC members yesterday, everybody is really determined to make these Olympic Games the light at the end of the tunnel …
“All the prospects are good, we are working hard, and for these Games, the first priority will be to make them safe and secure for all participants.”
Much of Japan is under a state of emergency due to a third wave of COVID-19 infections.
Bach conceded it would be a “huge undertaking” to get the Games underway. But he noted that major sporting events were already taking place around the world without the widespread availability of vaccination against the virus.
The German said Games organisers were looking at “all scenarios” and had a “huge toolbox” of measures which they would implement depending on the prevailing health conditions.