A New Wrinkle for Tokyo Olympics

(ATR) The resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe casts a new shadow over preparation for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Abe, 65, is suffering from ulcerative colitis, which forced his resignation in 2007 in a first stint as PM. Just this month Abe passed the eight year mark in his latest term as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party government, the longest ever for a Japanese prime minister.

Abe has been a key supporter of the Tokyo Olympics from the bid to the current interregnum of the postponement. He was the first to propose the delay, reaching a final decision in a 15-minute phone call in March with IOC President Thomas Bach.

"It is with great sadness that I learned about the resignation of Prime Minister Abe.His engagement was crucial to making the Tokyo Organizing Committee the best prepared ever," said Bach in a statement.

"Throughout these years, Prime Minister Abe was a strong partner who always stood up for the interests of Japan, and who at the same time could always be trusted. In this way, we were able to find solutions, even in the most difficult circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, which allow his vision for Japan to still come true, even if with one year’s delay," added Bach, who met with Abe a number of times.

Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori, himself a former prime minister, said he believes there will be continuity in the support of government with the leadership change.

"We look forward to the Prime Minister’s guidance during the remainder of his time in office, and hope to receive his generous support in the future regardless of his official position.

"As the Prime Minister stated today, the Organizing Committee will continue to work closely with the Government of Japan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the IOC, the IPC, and all other relevant organizations as we proceed with preparations for the Games in accordance with the scheduled road map," Mori said in a statement.

With construction and preparation largely complete, the national government will be the glue holding the pieces of the Olympics together. In addition to the venues in Tokyo under the care of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the 2020 Games will use venues across the country, from nearby Yokohama to Sapporo.

The national government also plays the lead role in batting back the coronavirus in Japan. Control of the illness is considered an essential to the successful staging of the Games. Decisions about whether to close the Games to spectators as well as possible quarantines for foreign visitors, including athletes and officials, will be the province of the Japan government.

Abe will remain in office for a few more weeks. He’ll step down when the LDP nominates a leader. Taro Aso, a former PM, is among the possibilities from a group of senior parliamentarians.

Reported by Ed Hula.