[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Kiss Mills, Vice Chairman of the 2012 London Olympic Organizing Committee, expressed the opinion that if it were up to him, he would have canceled this year's scheduled Tokyo Olympics in Japan.
According to major foreign media on the 20th, Vice Chairman Mills appeared on BBC Radio UK and said, "The Tokyo Olympics scheduled for July to August will not be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic," adding, "If I were in charge of organizing the Tokyo Olympics, I would have planned to cancel it."
He continued, "Japan will also prepare such a plan, but it seems they will keep it as a last resort in case the virus situation dramatically improves and vaccine distribution progresses faster."
Earlier, on the 18th, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga expressed his determination to proceed with the Games despite domestic opinion polls showing opposition to hosting the Olympics, stating, "I want to make this an opportunity to prove that humanity has overcome COVID-19 and to showcase Japan's revival from the Great East Japan Earthquake to the world."
Masamori Takaya, spokesperson for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, also told BBC Scotland, "Our position to hold the Olympics remains unchanged," explaining, "We are preparing COVID-19 countermeasures assuming there is no vaccine, and our plan is to hold the Games."
Sebastian Coe, former chairman of the 2012 London Olympic Organizing Committee and current president of World Athletics, also said in an interview with a media outlet that it seems the Tokyo Olympics will not be canceled.
He said, "Japan is braver and more resilient than any other country," and predicted, "It looks like the Olympics will proceed as planned."
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