[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The Japanese government has reportedly internally concluded to cancel the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for July this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, after having postponed it once.
On the 21st (local time), the British daily The Times reported, citing an anonymous senior official of Japan's ruling party, that the Japanese government is considering hosting the Tokyo Olympics in 2032.
The official stated, "There is a consensus that the Olympics cannot be held," adding, "The government is exploring the option of announcing the cancellation of this year's Games while keeping open the possibility of hosting the Olympics in the future."
Last year, as COVID-19 spread worldwide, Japan postponed the Olympics by one year just four months before the event.
Recently, with the resurgence of COVID-19 in Japan, voices have emerged calling for either another postponement of the Olympics or holding the event without spectators.
However, regarding this trend, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said in an earlier interview with Japan's Kyodo News that the Tokyo Olympics will be held as scheduled this summer and that there is no alternative plan.
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