Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the Tokyo Olympic Games will go ahead as planned in July, despite soaring coronavirus cases resulting in cancelation of sporting events.
The Prime Minister added the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would have the final decision whether Tokyo 2020 goes ahead.
“We will overcome the spread of the infection and host the Olympics without problem, as planned,” Abe said.
Japan has had more than 1,400 cases and 28 deaths resulting from coronavirus
Several Olympic trials events in the United States have been postponed, including wrestling, rowing and diving.
Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike said: “We’re taking thorough infection measures with regards to the torch relay domestically.”
The Japan section of the Olympic Torch relay is due to start in Fukushima on 26 March. The recent torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia was held without spectators, before the rest of the relay in Greece was suspended to avoid attracting crowds.
Organizers of the game said in December the Tokyo Games is expected to cost about 1.35 trillion yen (£10.26bn).
The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and commonly known as Tokyo 2020 is an upcoming international multi-sport event that is scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020 in Tokyo, Japan, with preliminary events in some sports beginning on 22 July
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