Tokyo organizers say Olympics are safe - public disagrees
by The Associated Press
Last Updated May 20, 2021 at 11:27 pm EDT
People against the Tokyo 2020 Olympics march to protest during an anti-Olympics demonstration, in Tokyo, Monday, May 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
TOKYO (AP) The IOC wraps up its final planning sessions on Friday with Tokyo Olympic organizers, just two months before the games are to open. Much of the focus is on persuading a skeptical public and medical community that the games should go ahead.
“We have much to do over the next three days,” IOC Vice President John Coates said on Wednesday as the sessions began.
Canadians in Japan say the Olympics should be cancelled
by Hina Alam, The Canadian Press
Posted May 21, 2021 4:00 am EDT
Last Updated May 21, 2021 at 4:14 am EDT
Canadian Jordan Dallaire-Gagné just wanted to be part of the largest sporting event in the world. Working or volunteering at the Tokyo Olympics was top of mind when the Montrealer moved to Japan a little over a year ago.
But Dallaire-Gagné said the Games should be cancelled as parts of the world face surging waves of COVID-19.
Dallaire-Gagné and several other Canadians living in Japan said sports are about camaraderie, cheering fans, full stadiums and a festive atmosphere that spills into the streets. Canadians in Japan were looking forward to cheering Team Canada in Tokyo.
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IOC VP says Tokyo Olympics to take place even if state of emergency in place because of COVID-19
TOKYO The IOC vice president in charge of the postponed Tokyo Olympics said Friday that the Games would open in just over two months even if the city and other parts of Japan were under a state of emergency because of rising COVID-19 cases.
John Coates, speaking from Australia in a virtual news conference with Tokyo organizers at the end of three days of meetings, said this would be the case even if local medical experts advised against holding the Olympics.