The Japanese minister of Administrative and Regulatory Reform, Taro Kono has on Friday said: “anything can happen” as regards the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, contradicting the official position of the country’s Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga who assured a ‘safe and secure” tournament.
Mr Kono’s statement comes after the declaration of a state of emergency in 11 regions including Kyoto and Osaka. “Given the coronavirus situation, anything can happen,” Kono, a high-profile former foreign and defence minister, told a press briefing. “The organising committee and the IOC must of course be thinking about back-up plans. The government is firmly preparing for the Olympics and Paralympics.”
The Tokyo 2020 President, Yoshiro Mori in a statement said Japan will have to make a tough decision regarding the games and the ongoing pandemic.
“We will have to make a very difficult decision from February to March,” Mori said.
