Tokyo Olympics Games Will Go Ahead With Or Without Covid: Ioc

International Olympic Committee’s Vice President John Coates said the Tokyo Olympics will go ahead next year regardless of the coronavirus situation, AFP reported.Coates told AFP in a phone interview the Games will start as planned on July 23 “with or without Covid,” stressing that the Olympics have never been canceled outside of world wars.

It will be the “Games that conquered Covid,” the head of the IOC’s coordination committee for the Tokyo event said.The Olympics, which was postponed by a year as the coronavirus pandemic infected millions around the world, was an event outgoing premier Shinzo Abe had said would mark humanity’s victory over the virus.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said while he has not aware of the details of the comments from Coates, the government will continue discussing anti-virus measures for the Tokyo Olympics.

“The government will continue to work closely with the organizing committee and the Tokyo metropolitan government to hold the games in a safe way for both the athletes and spectators,” Suga, seen as the front-runner to succeed Abe as the next prime minister, told a briefing in Tokyo.