International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates was adamant Saturday that nothing may cease the Tokyo Olympics from going forward, regardless of ongoing dangers from Covid-19.
Asked by AFP if there was any state of affairs through which the Games, that are because of begin on July 23, could possibly be cancelled or postponed once more at this late stage, he replied: “No, there’s not.
“The prime minister of Japan mentioned that to the president of the United States two or three weeks in the past. He continues to say that to the IOC.
“We’re working with him (Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga) on the entire security measures. It’s going forward.”
Suga held talks with US President Joe Biden in April and stressed the Asian nation was doing everything possible to contain Covid-19 infections and hold a “safe and secure” Olympics.
But questions proceed to be raised in regards to the viability of the Games, given the continuing pandemic and a virus state of emergency in Tokyo and different elements of Japan being prolonged on Friday.
While Japan’s Covid-19 outbreak stays a lot smaller than in lots of nations, with simply over 10,500 deaths, its vaccine rollout is shifting slowly and polls present most Japanese individuals assist cancellation or one other delay.
Coates, the purpose man for the Games as head of the IOC’s coordination fee, mentioned an enormous quantity of labor had been achieved to make sure the security of athletes and the Japanese public.
“We spent the primary half of final 12 months figuring out all of the worst-case situations,” he told reporters in Sydney on the sidelines of the Australian Olympic Committee’s annual general meeting.
“We spent the next six months looking at the countermeasures that are necessary.
“We’re implementing those countermeasures, predicated on there being no vaccine, so that situation has improved. The Games will go ahead.”
US medication large Pfizer and its German accomplice BioNTech on Thursday introduced a cope with the IOC to offer vaccines to opponents and employees on the Games.
In an announcement, the corporations mentioned they’d coordinate with nationwide sporting our bodies to ensure that coronavirus vaccines can be found to anybody who wants one earlier than travelling to Japan.
‘Safety comes first’
Coates mentioned it was a giant step ahead.
“All of the precautions that we now have been taking are aimed on the well being of the athletes and the well being of the individuals of Japan,” he said, denying the IOC was putting sport and financial considerations before health.
“We’ve put an amazing amount of work into the procedures that ensure the safety of the athletes through testing … boosted now by all athletes around the world now having access to the vaccine.”
But he additionally admitted that not having the Japanese public absolutely on board was a priority.
“I believe there’s a correlation between the numbers who’re involved about their security with the numbers who’ve been vaccinated in Japan,” he mentioned.
“And the numbers (vaccinated) are very small, particularly among the elderly. So as the vaccine is rolled out in Japan, I think that will improve.
“The other message we have to get across to them, and are getting across to them, is that these measures we’ve been taking and trialling at test events are working,” he added.
While some Olympic take a look at occasions and qualifiers have been postponed, cancelled or moved overseas, others, notably the diving World Cup, have been efficiently held in Tokyo with athletes from abroad.
Coates revealed a Tunisian official at a latest rowing occasion in Tokyo examined optimistic for coronavirus, however mentioned that solely proved the robust measures have been working.
“He examined okay earlier than he left Tunisia, examined okay on arrival then three days later examined optimistic,” he said.
“But the system worked and he was taken out of his team, the competition, and no one else tested positive. Sorry for him, but that was a very good experience (for organisers).”
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