Will the Tokyo Olympics Be Postponed... Abe and Bach Hold Phone Talks Today

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), are reported by NHK and others to hold a phone consultation on the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic issues on the 24th.

According to reports, the Japanese government announced that Prime Minister Abe is scheduled to have a phone call with President Bach at the Prime Minister's Official Residence starting from 8 PM that day. Yoshiro Mori, Chairman of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, and Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo, are expected to attend the meeting.

The main topic of discussion is expected to be whether to postpone the Tokyo Olympics. The Sankei Shimbun reported, citing a senior Japanese government official, that the IOC and the Japanese government seem to be coordinating to postpone the Tokyo Olympics within a maximum period of one year.

According to the report, the senior official stated, assuming that the authority to set the Olympic schedule lies with the IOC, "It will be postponed." He further explained that considering the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are scheduled, the postponement would be "at most about one year."

NHK reported that Prime Minister Abe plans to request President Bach to decide as soon as possible, including the timing of the event, if the Tokyo Olympics are to be postponed.

Earlier, on the 22nd (local time), the IOC announced that it would review options including postponing the Tokyo Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic and would reach a conclusion within four weeks. Prime Minister Abe also stated the previous day that he would consider postponement if it is difficult to hold the Tokyo Olympics in a "complete form."

Subsequently, countries such as Canada and Australia announced that they would not send their teams if the Tokyo Olympics are held as scheduled. Additionally, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee revealed that in a survey of about 4,000 American athletes, 93% of respondents said the Tokyo Olympics should be postponed if it cannot be held as planned.

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