Tokyo Olympics Live Updates May 15: Check out all the newest updates and information as Tokyo prepares for the Olympics. Japan’s e-commerce large Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani has mentioned that holding the Games in Tokyo a “suicide mission” as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage round the world. Like many others in Japan, who proceed to protest in opposition to the holding of the Olympics, Mikitani feels it’s not proper too. Swiss legend Roger Federer joined the refrain of uncertainty round the Olympics and mentioned there wants to be a readability whether or not the occasion shall be held or not in the present state of affairs. Meanwhile, American triple jumper Omar Craddock was banned for 20 months on Friday over missed doping checks and can miss the Tokyo Olympics.
Mikitani mentioned in an interview with CNN, “It’s dangerous to host the big international event from all over the world. So, the risk is too big and… I’m against having the Tokyo Olympics this year.” He described the Games as “a suicide mission”. On Friday, Japan prolonged a coronavirus state of emergency as the nation is battling a fourth wave of virus infections. With simply over 10 weeks till the Games open on July 23, public opinion stays opposed, with most favouring an extra delay or cancellation. On Friday, a petition to cancel the Tokyo Olympics with greater than 351,000 signatures was submitted to the metropolis’s governor. Mikitani, who has been crucial about the authorities’s dealing with of the pandemic and internet hosting the Tokyo Games this yr, mentioned it was not too late to scrap the occasion, saying: “Everything is possible.”
Federer mentioned Friday that athletes want a agency determination on whether or not the Tokyo Olympics are going forward, with the tennis star saying he was in two minds over the Games. An Olympics singles gold medal is the solely main honour lacking from the Swiss nice’s assortment – however the 39-year-old mentioned he would perceive if the Games had been referred to as off. “It’s difficult,” Federer advised Switzerland’s Leman Bleu tv. “We’re not hearing much. That makes me think the Games will happen, even if I’ve heard that lots of people in Tokyo are against the Games.”