Japan’s Olympics minister yesterday signaled that the Summer Games would go ahead as planned from July, even as a COVID-19 outbreak spread to new parts of the country.
“Based on the fact that the IOC [International Olympic Committee] never mentioned about canceling or postponing the Tokyo Games at its meeting yesterday, I don’t expect a cancelation notice or anything of that sort,” Japanese Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Seiko Hashimoto told the Japanese Diet.
Hashimoto earlier this week caused controversy by saying that the contract for the Games “could be interpreted as allowing a postponement” within this calendar year.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Western Shiga Prefecture yesterday reported its first coronavirus infection, a day after the announcement of a first case in southern Miyazaki Prefecture.
Japan Broadcasting Corp (NHK) also reported new coronavirus infections in Kyoto, Sapporo and Niigata.
Confirmed cases had risen to 1,036 nationwide as of yesterday morning, 36 more than the previous day, NHK said.
That was the biggest one-day increase to date.
The rapid spread of the virus has raised questions about whether Tokyo can host the Olympics as scheduled from July 24, with the effects being felt by other sporting events.
On Wednesday, the Japanese Rugby Football Union announced that next month’s Asia Sevens Invitational, which doubles as a test event for rugby sevens at the Tokyo Olympics, has been canceled due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.
The Tokyo Marathon was held earlier this month without the participation of non-elite runners, and with fewer volunteers and spectators.
Twelve people have died from the disease in Japan, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare data showed.
Hashimoto told the upper House of Councilors that organizers and the IOC would continue to work together closely, and reiterated that the final decision on holding the Games as planned rests with the committee.
“Cancelation or delay of the Games would be unacceptable for the athletes,” Hashimoto said. “An environment where athletes can feel at ease and focus should be firmly prepared.”
Under the host city contract, the IOC has the right to terminate the contract if it has reasonable grounds to believe the safety of the Games would be seriously threatened.
However, IOC president Thomas Bach on Wednesday voiced confidence that the Games would go ahead, saying that organizers were receiving expert information from the WHO and others, and that the words “postponement” and “cancelation” had not been mentioned at the IOC’s executive board meeting.
However, some Tokyo residents expressed concerns.
“I think the Olympics should be canceled in this case, because it is a dangerous situation,” 77-year-old Yufumi Tamaki told reporters yesterday.
“I feel sorry for the athletes and the people who have prepared for the Games, but it is more important to save lives,” Tamaki added.
Organizers have made provisions to cancel the Tokyo Games in the event of a massive earthquake or other natural disaster, the Mainichi Shimbun reported.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Teng Kai-wei impressed against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday despite an 8-1 loss in the opener of the team’s nine-game road trip. Teng, the only Taiwanese pitcher active in MLB, struck out five while allowing two hits and one walk over four innings at Chase Field to finish with a no decision, as the teams were tied 1-1 when he finished his outing. He surrendered the lone run of his outing in the bottom of the first, which began with a walk, a hit-by-pitch and two strikeouts. Diamondbacks leadoff hitter Geraldo Perdomo advanced to third on
DOUBLE: Harry Kane has now netted 12 goals in six games, scoring his second hat-trick this season after Bayern’s opening Bundesliga match against Leipzig last month That man again. Harry Kane scored his second hat-trick of the season on Saturday to steer Bayern Munich to a 4-1 win at Hoffenheim for the best Bundesliga start any team has made after four rounds. The England captain scored before the break and converted two penalties after it to take his club tally to 12 goals in six games across all competitions — 13 goals in seven games including the German Supercup. Kane’s other hat-trick was in the Bundesliga-opening 6-0 rout of Leipzig. Bayern’s record of 12 points with a goal difference of 15-plus is the best after four rounds of the Bundesliga
Rwanda is to take center stage from today as the first African country to host the cycling world championships, in its latest use of sports to improve the country’s reputation. As it prepares for 5,000 cyclists and 20,000 spectators, Rwanda has spruced up its roads, created a network of cycle lanes and run multiple police drills. A poor, landlocked country in east Africa still widely associated with a horrific genocide in 1994, Rwanda has used various sports to revamp its image, attract tourists and impress investors with its organizational efficiency. It has spent lavishly on soccer sponsorship deals with clubs
New Zealand yesterday basked in “amazing” athletics glory after winning two gold medals in as many days at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Geordie Beamish on Monday claimed New Zealand’s first track gold in history with a shock victory in the 3,000m steeplechase, while high jumper Hamish Kerr followed with gold on Tuesday to make it an unprecedented double success for a country much better known for rugby than its prowess in track and field. Before this week, the country had won only six golds in total at the championships. Yesterday morning New Zealand were in the giddy position of fourth on
RSS