Tokyo 2020 Leaders, IOC President Discuss Vaccinations

(ATR) Tokyo 2020 leaders Yoshiro Mori and Toshiro Muto update Thomas Bach on progress of vaccinations in Japan, while the IOC president reaffirms his utmost confidence in the organizers during a lengthy video conference call.

"We are hearing many different views about COVID-19, but we keep our solid ground, pursuing in our direction and President Bach has given us his strong stance, and this is a great encouragement to us," Mori told media during a virtual press conference after the meeting with the IOC chief.

The virtual meeting on Thursday comes one day after an IOC Executive Board meeting in which Bach drilled home to any doubters "our task is to organize Olympic Games, not to cancel Olympic Games" amid unfounded media reports that the Tokyo Games are headed toward cancellation.

"President Bach has also sent a letter to Prime Minister [Yoshihide] Suga and I expressed my appreciation for that," Mori said.

Mori says that Tokyo 2020 organizers remain fully committed to the mission of delivering a safe and secure Olympics and Paralympics in July and August.

"Nowhere from anyone, have we heard any objections, questions or doubts, so everyone strongly feels that we want to successfully hold the Tokyo Games.

"We are to build the new type of Olympic Games," said the Tokyo 2020 president.

The Tokyo 2020 leaders provided an update on the expected roll out of vaccinations in Japan after queries from Bach.

"President Bach asked about vaccines, the administration in Japan and the progress," noted Muto. "Right now, already, the national government has announced the schedule.

"From the end of February, the administration will start with the medical staff and I communicated that to president Bach.

"For us, based upon the government policy, vaccinations will be administered and that would be the most appropriate method.

Japan has arranged to buy 314 million doses from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca for its population of 126 million people.

"Bach expects that vaccination will make progress and as many people as possible will be vaccinated in Japan," Muto said.

Muto also addressed the status of vaccinations for Olympic officials and other Games stakeholders.

"People related to IOC, and depending upon their country, Olympic stakeholders will be vaccinated," he said.

Muto once again emphasized that the vaccination of athletes is not mandatory for them to compete and for the Tokyo Games to proceed as planned.

"We have been having thorough debate and discussion on this topic and we will not consider vaccines as a pre-requisite.

"We have compiled an interim direction – of course it is desirable that as many people as possible are vaccinated, and that will bring about a positive benefit, but even if vaccinations are not done, we will still be able to hold the Games," Muto affirmed.

Muto informed that a Tokyo meeting in February between Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, Tokyo 2020 officials and Bach has been agreed. Specific dates still need to be confirmed.

In March, another meeting with Tokyo 2020 coordination commission chair John Coates will be conducted.

Pressed for an update about the feasibility of permitting spectators to attend Olympic events, Tokyo 2020 president Muto was brief in his response: "We don’t want to hold events without spectators and are looking into many scenarios."

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli

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