Tokyo Organising Committee president Seiko Hashimoto

Tokyo Olympics Chief Insists Games Will Not Be Cancelled

On Apr 16, 2021

The head of the Tokyo Olympics assured the world that the postponed games will open in just over three months and not be cancelled despite surging COVID-19 cases in Japan.

Organising committee president Seiko Hashimoto was asked at a news conference if there were any conditions under which the Olympics would be cancelled.

The question comes as the general secretary of ruling LDP political party, Toshihiro Nikai, raised the possibility the day before.

“There are a variety of concerns but as the Tokyo 2020 organising committee we are not thinking about cancelling the games,” Hashimoto said.

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Nikai, the N. 2 person in the LDP party, was asked on Thursday in an interview if cancellation was still an option. “Of course,” he replied, adding that if the Tokyo Games caused a surge in infections “there would be no meaning to having the Olympics.”

Image of commuters wearing protective face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo, Japan

Nikai tried to backtrack later, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga issued a statement on Thursday saying there is “no change to the government position to do everything to achieve safe and secure Olympics.”

Hashimoto acknowledged Nikai’s concern and suggested it was probably shared by the Japanese public. Polls show as many as 80 per cent in Japan oppose holding the Olympics during the pandemic.

“The fact that he (Nikai) is concerned is a point that we need to take seriously as Tokyo 2020,” Hashimoto said. “His comment has reminded us of how tedious it was for us to feel confident or be fully prepared for delivering the games.”

COVID-19 cases have been rising across Japan. Despite this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo organisers are pressing on. The IOC, which relies on selling broadcast rights for 73 per cent of its income, has seen its cash flow stalled by the postponement.

On Thursday, the government minister in charge of Japan’s vaccine rollout, Taro Kono, said even if the Olympics go on, there may be no fans of any kind in the venues. He said it’s likely that the Olympics will have to be held in empty venues, particularly as cases surge across the country.

Chidi Nwoke/Independent.