G7 Leaders "Support Tokyo Olympic Opening Ceremony" (Update)

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is answering reporters' questions before departing for the UK to attend the G7 summit.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Japan has succeeded in gaining the support of the Group of Seven (G7) leaders for hosting the Tokyo Olympics.

The G7 leaders, in a joint statement released on the 13th (local time), stated, "We reiterate our support for holding the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in a safe and secure manner as a symbol of global unity and overcoming the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)."

Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister of Japan, told reporters immediately after the meeting, "I received strong support from all the leaders (for hosting the Olympics)," adding, "As Prime Minister, I gained great courage from this support."

During the summit, Prime Minister Suga held talks with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron, successfully eliciting their support for hosting the Tokyo Olympics.

The U.S. White House also confirmed its support for the Tokyo Olympics in a press release the previous day, stating that President Joe Biden reaffirmed his support as all necessary public health measures to protect athletes, event personnel, and spectators are progressing.