Tokyo Olympics: Reports of cancellation of games ‘categorically untrue’; IOC releases statement

Tokyo Olympics: Reports of cancellation of games ‘categorically untrue’; IOC releases statement

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The Tokyo Olympics were postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the dreaded virus not having subsided completely yet, organizers of the Games have kept reassuring athletes and fans that the Games will take place as has been scheduled already in July, 2021. The pandemic has already led to huge financial loss for the organizers as the Games has already become the most expensive Summer Olympics ever.

Reports have estimated the cost to be at USD 2.8 billion at present with the same expected to rise to USD 15.8 billion. Now, various reports in Japan and around the world have come up with statements that the Olympic Games might be cancelled due to the pandemic with another postponement impossible. The organizers have been refuting such statements and remaining firm in their stance that the Games will go ahead as per schedule.

IOC releases statement to refute reports

Today, various reports in Japan had been claiming that the Japanese Government had decided to cancel the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) refuted such claims with a statement that was also released on Twitter. The statement read, “We refer you to the strong and clear statement that the Government of Japan has made today, saying that the report is categorically untrue.“

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“Some news reports circulating today are claiming that the Government of Japan has privately concluded that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled because of the coronavirus. This is categorically untrue. At an IOC Executive Board Meeting in July last year, it was agreed that the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would be held on July 23 this year and the programme and venues for the Games were reshceduled accordingly. All parties involved are working together to prepare for a successful games this Summer,” the report added.

“We will be implementing all possible countermeasures against COVID-19 and will continue to work closely with the IOC, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in our preparations for holding a safe and secure Games this summer. Together with its Japanese partners and friends, the IOC is fully concentrated on and committed to the successful delivery of the Olympics and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 this year,” it concluded.

Also Read: Tokyo Olympics: Second postponement impossible, cancellation cloud hangs over Games