Olympics-Tokyo governor vows city's medical system is ready for Games (updated)
13/07/2021 12:05
(Adds IOC's Bach to visit Japanese cities)
By Antoni Slodkowski and Ami Miyazaki
TOKYO, July 13 (Reuters) - Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said
on Tuesday that a sufficient number of hospitals combined with a
speed-up in the vaccination rollout among the elderly meant the
city will be able to hold "safe and secure" Olympics in ten
days.
But Koike, speaking to Reuters in an interview at the Tokyo
government headquarters which has for the last few weeks doubled
as a vaccination site, also warned that the coronavirus pandemic
is far from over and the spreading Delta variant remains a risk.
"Very many people will be vaccinated in the coming ten days
and during the Olympics. The biggest change as a result of that
will be a substantive fall in the ratio of deaths and severe
cases among the elderly," Koike said.
"Because of that, and because the medical system is ready, I
think we can press ahead with a safe Olympics," said Koike, who
has returned to work after a brief break due to fatigue during
which she was admitted to hospital.
The Japanese capital entered its fourth state of emergency
on Monday causing bars and restaurants to close early, amid a
rebound in COVID-19 cases that also pushed the Games organisers
last week to ban spectators from nearly all venues.
Spectators from abroad were already banned months ago, and
officials are now asking residents to watch the Games on TV to
keep the movement of people to a minimum.
"It's very sad that the Games are being held without
spectators," said Koike. "It's clear we'll be able to lower the
risks (because of that), but the spectators are also very
important for the athletes and give them a big boost. It's a big
shame that we have to hold the Olympics without them."
Koike, 68, often floated as a potential prime minister, was
re-elected governor in a landslide last year, winning public
support for her straight-talking approach to the pandemic in
contrast with a sluggish nationwide vaccination rollout.
The Citizens First party, linked to Koike, performed
strongly in this month's local assembly elections, leading to
speculation - so far refuted by Koike - that she may make a
comeback to national politics.
On Tuesday, she did not directly address questions on the
matter.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who
is in Japan ahead of the Games, plans to visit the city of
Hiroshima on Friday, Yahoo News reported. Hiroshima, in western
Japan, was the first city to suffer an atomic bombing.
Bach will also visit the cities of Fukushima and Sapporo,
Japan's Kyodo News agency said.
The Games, postponed from last year because of the pandemic,
run from July 23 to August 8, while the state of emergency - the
capital's fourth - lasts until August 22, shortly before the
Paralympics begin.
(Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan
and Christian Radnedge)
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