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Ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2021.01.22 07:37
Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said that the Tokyo Olympic Games (Olympic Games), which were postponed for a year due to the coronavirus infection situation (new pneumonia), are planned to take place without a repeat of this summer. did.
“There is no reason to believe that the Tokyo Olympics will not start in July at this stage,” Bach said in a video interview with Kyodo News on the 21st (local time). “Therefore, there is no plan B (alternative).” Revealed.
It is a statement that rules out the possibility of canceling or postponing the Tokyo Olympics.
Regarding the recent spread of more infectious mutant viruses in areas such as the UK and South Africa, he said: “I can’t compare it to last year.” “I hope all the athletes come to Tokyo.” I talked to him. . This reflects expectations for preventive measures for new types of pneumonia, including vaccination.
However, President Bach emphasized safety. “There is no taboo when it comes to security,” Bach said. “The IOC will have to be flexible to save people’s lives (eg reduce the number of spectators).”
President Bach’s comments came to light as the possibility of canceling the Tokyo Olympics was mentioned.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) noted on the 20th, the day before, that “it may be difficult to hold the Tokyo Olympics this year due to the delay in vaccination in Japan.”
Vaccination has started, but faced with the problem of not being able to increase the vaccination rate, it is almost time for the Japan Olympic Organizing Committee to decide whether to hold the Tokyo Olympics or postpone them again like last year.
The Japanese government plans to vaccinate all the people until the start of the convention in July, but the contagion situation of the new pneumonia is getting worse and uncontrollable, and the public opinion of the Japanese people on the vaccination and the celebration of the Olympics is noted to be an obstacle that is getting worse.
On the 21st, 1471 new infections occurred in Japan alone in Tokyo. There were 5,642 people in all of Japan, including Tokyo. It has reached the 5,000 level in three days since the 19th. By this date, the cumulative number of infected people has risen to the 352,000 level.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared a state of emergency two weeks ago, but told a plenary session of the House of Representatives that he must respond with tension, saying that the number of infected people remains high.
Prior to this, Taro Kono, the minister in charge of administrative reform, said in an interview with JoongAng Ilbo on the 14th, “We will definitely prepare for the Tokyo Olympics (Olympics) with vaccination alone.”
