Abe: "Tokyo Olympics May Be Postponed If Not in 'Complete Form'" (Comprehensive)

IOC Executive Board, "Will Discuss Details with Japanese Government for 4 Weeks"
69% of Japanese Citizens Say "It Is Better to Postpone the Tokyo Olympics"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has suggested for the first time the possibility of postponing the Tokyo Olympics. Until now, the Japanese government has insisted on holding the event as scheduled in July despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which had also intended to proceed with the Games, announced that it would consider the possibility of postponement over the next four weeks amid a flood of protests from National Olympic Committees and athletes worldwide.

According to Japanese media such as NHK on the 23rd, Prime Minister Abe, appearing at the House of Councillors Budget Committee, said regarding the possibility of postponing the Tokyo Olympics, "If it is difficult to hold the Games in their complete form, we must consider postponement with the athletes as our top priority." He explained that "complete form" means holding the event without scaling down and with spectators present. Regarding cancellation, he emphasized, "The decision will be made by the IOC, but the IOC also agrees that cancellation is not an option."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is speaking at the Budget Committee meeting held on the 23rd at the House of Councillors, Japan's upper house. At this occasion, Prime Minister Abe mentioned for the first time the possibility of postponing the Tokyo Olympics. Tokyo, Japan = Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 22nd (local time), the IOC held an emergency executive board meeting at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, and issued a statement saying, "In cooperation with Japanese authorities, we will begin detailed discussions over the next four weeks to assess the rapidly changing international health situation and its impact on the Olympics." According to Bloomberg and other sources, within the IOC, various opinions have emerged regarding postponement periods, including 30 or 45 days, or delays of one to two years. However, IOC President Thomas Bach drew a line by stating, "Canceling the Tokyo Olympics will neither solve the problem nor help," and "cancellation is not on the agenda."

Since the Japanese government and the IOC have consistently insisted on holding the Games as scheduled in July, Prime Minister Abe’s direct mention of postponement is considered unusual. It is interpreted as a step back following official demands for postponement from National Olympic Committees and athletes worldwide. The Brazilian and Norwegian Olympic Committees submitted formal letters to the IOC requesting postponement, and the USA Swimming Federation and UK Athletics also expressed the need for a delay.

Even within Japan, public opinion overwhelmingly supports postponing the Tokyo Olympics. According to a telephone survey conducted by Yomiuri Shimbun from the 20th to the 22nd among 1,077 men and women aged 18 and over nationwide, 69% favored postponement, 8% supported cancellation, and only 17% wanted to hold the Games as scheduled.

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