Tokyo 2020: Toshiro Muto not ruling out 11th-hour cancellation of Olympics due to Covid-19

The head of the organising committee for the Tokyo Olympics has not ruled out a last-minute cancellation of the Games.

Rising coronavirus cases have presented organisers with mounting challenges, with nine more positive cases in the last 24 hours bringing the total number of people affected to 67.

Asked at a news conference if the Games, which are due to open on Friday, might still be cancelled, Toshiro Muto said he would keep an eye on infection numbers and hold discussions with organisers if necessary.



Covid-19 cases are rising in Tokyo and the Games, postponed last year because of the pandemic, will be held without spectators.


The opening ceremony will also take place without major Olympic sponsors, dealing another blow to a slimmed-down Games as more athletes tested positive for the coronavirus.

Muto, a former top financial bureaucrat with close ties to Japan’s ruling party, is known for his careful choice of words, while organisers are facing a domestic public angry about coronavirus restrictions and concerned over a possible spike in cases triggered by Games attendees arriving from abroad.

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