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TOKYO (AP) – Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, despite mounting uncertainty as coronavirus cases rise in his country, renewed his determination on Friday to host the postponed Tokyo Olympics this summer as a symbol of victory. human on the pandemic.
See also: The Olympic Committee says the Tokyo Games are still underway, possibly without spectators
Suga, speaking from Tokyo at a virtual meeting of the World Economic Forum, also called for a transparent investigation by the World Health Organization on the pandemic, saying it is key to learning lessons and preparing for future pandemics. He also promised to expand an initial contribution of $ 130 million to a fund to help developing countries purchase coronavirus vaccines.
“We are celebrating the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer,” Suga said. “I am determined to achieve the Games as a test of human victory against the pandemic, a symbol of global solidarity and to give hope and courage around the world.”
Olympic officials have repeatedly said the games will take place in July as planned after a one-year postponement, though various scenarios are being considered, including holding events without spectators.
Suga repeated his determination to achieve a “safe and secure” Olympic Games and vowed to control infections in Japan as soon as possible.
“We must learn lessons from this pandemic and be prepared for future crises,” he said. For this, “a scientific investigation of the WHO must be carried out with firmness and transparency”. He did not say whether he was referring to a current visit by a WHO team of experts to Wuhan, China, where the virus was first detected.
At home, Suga has been criticized for delaying virus measures until daily cases rose to new highs in late December. It finally declared a partial state of emergency in early January, issuing non-binding requests until February 7 for people to avoid crowds or eat out in groups and for restaurants and bars to close early.
New cases in Tokyo are down, but experts say they have not decreased enough, indicating that emergency measures could be extended for several more weeks.
