Preparations for Olympic Games continue in Japan despite coronavirus

Preparations for the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer are proceeding as usual despite the coronavirus risk, a Japanese government spokesman said Friday. Photo: Kiichiro Sato/AP Photo

Preparations for the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer are proceeding as usual despite the coronavirus risk, a Japanese government spokesman said Friday. Photo: Kiichiro Sato/AP Photo

Published Feb 21, 2020

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TOKYO – Preparations for the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer

are proceeding as usual despite the coronavirus risk, a Japanese

government spokesman said Friday.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confidence in Japan's

handling of the Sars-CoV-2 agent, Japanese government spokesman

Yoshihide Suga said in Tokyo.

It will coordinate closely with the International Olympic Committee,

the organizing committee and the Tokyo city government as the host.

the spokesman added.

Preparations for the games, scheduled to take place from July 24 to

August 9, will continue, Suga said.

Tokyo organizers had stressed last week that the outbreak of the

novel coronavirus in China will not affect the schedules of this

year's Olympics.

But organizers of current sporting events in Japan are taking

precautions.

After the organizers of the Tokyo marathon recently decided that only

top athletes, but not amateurs, will be allowed to participate this

year, the same has now been decided for the women's marathon in

Nagoya.

The city marathon in Nagoya was cancelled entirely.

Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato called on event organizers to

rethink their plans. However, the government has not demanded an

across-the-board cancellation of events.

After discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO), the

International Olympic Committee is convinced that the Tokyo Olympics

do not have to be canceled or relocated due to the coronavirus.

John Coates, chair of the IOC Coordinating Commission, said last week

that "the games will be played in a way that is safe for athletes and

spectators."

The head of the Japanese Olympic Committee, Yoshiro Mori, said a week

ago that planning would not be affected by the new lung disease.

The games have the slogan "United by Emotion". The motto emphasizes

the power of sport to bring people from different backgrounds

together, according to the organizing committee.

dpa

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coronavirus