Trump's Comment on 1-Year Olympic Postponement... Japan Responds "Preparing as Scheduled" to Calm Concerns

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] When U.S. President Donald Trump proposed postponing the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for July this year by one year, the Japanese government quickly responded by saying, "We are not considering it at all," emphasizing that preparations are proceeding as planned.

According to NHK, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a regular briefing that day, "The government’s stance remains unchanged that we will steadily proceed with preparations in close cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the organizing committee, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and others toward holding the Games as scheduled."

Seiko Hashimoto, Japan’s Minister in charge of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, stated at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting that "Neither the IOC nor the organizing committee is considering postponement or cancellation at all." Koichi Hagiuda, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, also emphasized, "We are preparing to ensure a safe and secure event for athletes and spectators."

The reason Japanese government ministers made these statements in unison was due to President Trump’s remarks. On the 12th (local time), as he entered a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at the White House, Trump was asked about the Tokyo Olympics and said, "This is just my opinion," adding, "Maybe they will postpone it for a year. If possible, they might do it. Maybe it’s not possible."

When asked if he would recommend the one-year postponement plan to Prime Minister Abe, Trump replied, "No. They are very smart," saying they would make the decision themselves. However, he added, "I think it’s better than holding it in empty stadiums," and "If it is delayed by a year, I think it could be a better alternative than holding it without spectators."

In this context, President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held an urgent phone call for about 50 minutes that morning to discuss responses to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Tokyo Olympics, and the global economic situation. Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga said the call was made at the U.S. side’s proposal, and during the call, Abe conveyed his intention to prepare as scheduled, saying, "We are working hard to hold the Olympics. We want to succeed in the Tokyo Olympics by overcoming COVID-19," according to Japanese media reports.

After the phone call with Prime Minister Abe, President Trump tweeted, "Good things will happen for Japan and their great Prime Minister," but also said, "There are many options!" This is interpreted as meaning Japan has many options regarding the Tokyo Olympics.