Tokyo governor agrees with Abe on possible Olympics delay, cancellation not an option
Record ID:
1465360
Tokyo governor agrees with Abe on possible Olympics delay, cancellation not an option
- Title: Tokyo governor agrees with Abe on possible Olympics delay, cancellation not an option
- Date: 23rd March 2020
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 23, 2020) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** TOKYO GOVERNOR, YURIKO KOIKE ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE KOIKE LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO GOVERNOR, YURIKO KOIKE, SAYING: "The Prime Minister (Shinzo Abe) also said at the parliament that if it (the Games) became difficult to hold as planned, he would think of the athletes first, and might have no option but to consider postponing it. And I agree with him." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO GOVERNOR, YURIKO KOIKE, SAYING: "As the head of the host city, I have repeatedly stated that cancellation is impossible. The top priority is making sure we have measures to protect the health of Tokyo residents from coronavirus infectious disease." KOIKE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 6th April 2020 06:40
- Keywords: IOC Japan Olympics Tokyo 2020 Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike coronavirus disease health postponement
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001C69TD1J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Monday (March 23) that she agreed with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's latest comments that postponing the Olympics will not be ruled out as an option, due to the coronavirus outbreak, although she said cancellation was impossible.
She told a press conference that the top priority currently was to have measures to protect Tokyo residents from coronavirus.
Prior to the news conference, Koike was asked by journalists on whether she would accept the Tokyo Games being postponed. She briefly stated that she expects the possibility to be included in the discussions by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the upcoming four weeks.
The IOC said on Sunday (March 22) after an emergency meeting that it is stepping up its "scenario planning" for the 2020 Games due to start on July 24, including a possible postponement.
(Production: Akira Tomoshige, Hideto Sakai, Akiko Okamoto, Travis Teo) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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