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Olympic Games 2021: Tokyo Games must go ahead ‘at any cost’, says Japan's Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto
Next year’s Tokyo Games must be held "at any cost" in 2021, says Japan's Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto.
Back in March, the Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee took the unprecedented decision to postpone the Games, originally scheduled to begin in July, until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
And at a press conference on Tuesday, Hashimoto said the Games should be held for the benefit of the athletes.
She said: "Everyone involved with the Games is working together to prepare, and the athletes are also making considerable efforts towards next year."
"I think we have to hold the Games at any cost," she added.
"I want to concentrate all our efforts on measures against the coronavirus."
Officials from the Japanese government, local Tokyo government and the Olympics organising committee met for the first time last week to develop steps to counter the coronavirus at the Games.
In an interview with Reuters in July, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said organisers were preparing to host the Games next year even if the global coronavirus pandemic hasn't eased substantially.
Organisers are looking at over 200 proposals on how best to deal with the virus, including easing travel restrictions for foreign athletes, anti-virus measures at the Athletes' Village and how to handle spectators.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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