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Japan could cancel Olympics again due to COVID19, China says ‘we can host’

Top government official of Japan indicated that they are again considering postponing Olympics 2020 to 2022 since cases are on the rise across the world including their own country.

Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has warned the Tokyo Olympics could be cancelled if the Covid-19 situation makes it impossible to host the quadrennial event as virus cases spike in the country, media reported Thursday.

“Cancelling is of course an opinion. If the Olympics were to spread infection, then what are the Olympics for?” he added.

The remarks come 99 days before the pandemic-postponed Games open on July 23, and with rising concern in Japan about a spike in virus cases.

Since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed when the pandemic broke out, Suga has repeatedly expressed determination to press ahead with the event, scheduled to start July 23, flagging it as an opportunity to prove the human race has defeated the virus.

With Japan in the midst of a fourth wave of coronavirus infections, doubts over whether Tokyo would be able to host the Summer Games – already an unpopular idea with the public – have resurfaced in recent weeks.

In response, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday stressed that the government is fully focussed on controlling the spread of Covid-19.

On the other hand, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to hold a successful Winter Olympics next year in Beijing, responding to challenges the event faces from the coronavirus pandemic and international criticism over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. “With the active support and participation of all parties, we’re confident about overcoming the impact of the pandemic and hosting a simple, safe and splendid Olympics,” Xi told a gathering of ambassadors in Beijing that was covered by state television Wednesday evening.

Olympic organisers insist the Games can be held safely and have released virus rulebooks to allay public fears.

They point out sporting events are continuing in Japan, but opinion polls show a majority of Japanese favour a postponement or cancellation of the Games.

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