Tokyo Olympics organisers to skip one-year countdown event because of COVID-19 pandemic, says report
Organisers of the postponed Tokyo Summer Olympics have decided not to hold a large scale event marking the one year countdown to the Games because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Tokyo: Organisers of the postponed Tokyo Summer Olympics have decided not to hold a large scale event marking the one year countdown to the Games because of the coronavirus pandemic, public broadcaster NHK reported on Friday.
The Olympic logo is seen in Tokyo. AP Photo
Organisers are seeking to cut costs related to the postponement until next year of the Games, which had been due to start next month, and are also conscious of pandemic risks.
“We cannot hold a lively event while the risk of infection continues,” NHK quoted an unnamed organising committee source as saying.
Related Articles
Tokyo 2020 organising committee representatives did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Thursday that organisers were looking at ways to simplify the event itself, although nothing had been decided.
At last year’s countdown event, organisers unveiled the medals at a ceremony attended by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the countdown clock in front of Tokyo Station was launched.
“I can really say that I have never seen any Olympic city being so ready with their preparations one year before the Games as Tokyo already is,” Bach said at the time.
The countdown clock has been reset for the new opening date of 23 July, 2021.
The new coronavirus has infected more than 6.5 million people and killed about 386,000 around the world. Japan has reported some 17,000 infections and 900 known deaths to date.
also read
'A world without nukes': All eyes on Japan's Hiroshima as G-7 leaders arrive for summit
Japan's Hiroshima, the site of the world's first atomic attack at the end of World War II, is hosting leaders of seven of the most influential countries in the world for the G7 summit. They will discuss a wide range of issues, including economic policy, security, climate change, energy and gender
China under new COVID cloud, cases to peak at 65 million per week by June end
The latest wave is fueled by the newest XBB Omicron variant that has led to spike in cases starting late April. Reports say COVID-19 cases will reach nearly 40 million per week in May before peaking at 65 million a week by the end of May
Taiwanese airline founder travels to Japan to apologise to stranded passengers
Chairman of Starlux Airlines Chang Kuo-Wei travelled all the way to Tokyo’s Narita Airport in Japan earlier this week to apologise to the 308 stranded passengers due to the delay of a scheduled flight