Olympics-Bach says "no Plan B" for Tokyo Games - Kyodo (updated)
21/01/2021 11:41
(adds quotes, details)
TOKYO, Jan 21 (Reuters) - There is "no Plan B" for the Tokyo
Games, says International Olympic Committee President Thomas
Bach, who reaffirmed his commitment to holding the showpiece
event this year in an interview with Kyodo News on Thursday.
After the Games were postponed last year because of the
global novel coronavirus pandemic, Saturday marks six months
until the rearranged Olympics are due to start on July 23.
Despite dwindling public support and a surge in coronavirus
cases across the world, organisers are adamant the Games will go
ahead.
"We have at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe
that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on the 23rd of
July in the Olympic stadium in Tokyo," Bach told Kyodo News.
"This is why there is no Plan B and this is why we are fully
committed to make these Games safe and successful," he added.
With the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics on the horizon and
rapidly escalating costs further reducing public support, Tokyo
organisers have repeatedly ruled out postponing the Games again.
(Reporting by Eimi Yamamitsu and Jack Tarrant; Editing by Kevin
Liffey and Ken Ferris)
((jack.tarrant@thomsonreuters.com;))