Japan

Seiko Hashimoto who is the Japan Olympic minister grabbed everyone’s attention with her recent statement regarding the 2020 Tokyo Games. “Everyone involved with the Games is working together to prepare, and the athletes are also making considerable efforts towards next year,” Hashimoto said. The 2020 Olympic event was postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Hashimoto said, “I think we have to hold the Games at any cost. I think Mr. Coates felt reassured that the Tokyo Games can be held with further close coordination of efforts.” Though this news has certainly rejuvenated the damped spirits of the Olympic fans worldwide, however, has also inculcated speculation amongst the crowd. In a recent interview with Reuters in July, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said organizers were preparing to host the Games next year even if the global coronavirus pandemic hasn`t eased substantially. Coates, who heads the IOC's Coordination Commission, Tokyo Games explained the significance of the event amongst the Japanese by referring the event as - “Games that conquered COVID.” He further adds, “It will take place with or without Covid-19. The Games will start on July 23 next year”. The Tokyo 2020 games will be symbolic of the undaunted zeal with which the Japanese have continued to deal with the natural catastrophic incidents such as – 2011 earthquake and tsunami. He said, “The Games were going to be, their theme, the Reconstruction Games after the devastation of the tsunami.” However, Japan's borders are still sealed for international visitors, and rumor has it that the COVID-19 vaccine is still an on-going process in their country due to which the people, in general, are quite skeptical about the event. Masa Takaya, Tokyo 2020 spokesperson reassured the public sentiments stating that the event organizers would continue to ‘carefully monitor’ the pandemic's evolution and ‘make every effort in coordination with all relevant organizations to ensure a safe and secure Games’.

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