Now is time to be positive and prepare, says JOC head

Record ID: 1465863

  • Title: Now is time to be positive and prepare, says JOC head
  • Date: 25th March 2020
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 25, 2020) (REUTERS) NATIONAL STADIUM / JAPANESE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OFFICE NEXT TO JAPAN OLYMPIC MUSEUM
  • Embargoed: 8th April 2020 05:06
  • Keywords: IOC JOC National Stadium Olympics Tokyo 2020 Yamashita coronavirus health postponement
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • City: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Olympics,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA001C6JSW1Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The president of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), Yasuhiro Yamashita, said on Wednesday (March 25) he wanted to make the Games successful after an additional year of preparation, following its delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
    Now is the time to be positive and prepare for the Games now that their prospects have become clear, Yamashita told reporters.
    "Let's unite together, keep our hearts close so that people around the world will say that the Olympics hosted in Japan is amazing and despite the postponement, they did really good work," he added. "With the help of many people, we want to work hard to make the Olympics happen."
    The Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee made the decision on Tuesday (March 24) to postpone the Games. It is the first time in history that the Olympics have been postponed.
    It is not clear whether athletes who have already qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Games will automatically keep their berth for the Olympics held next year.
    The JOC and other national Olympic committees will hold discussions with the IOC in the coming months to decide on the rules and regulations at this unprecedented time.
    (Production: Jack Tarrant / Shiori Ozawa)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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