Olympics must go ahead next year as symbol of overcoming COVID-19, Tokyo governor says

Record ID: 1562091

  • Title: Olympics must go ahead next year as symbol of overcoming COVID-19, Tokyo governor says
  • Date: 13th July 2020
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JULY 13, 2020) (REUTERS) TOKYO GOVERNOR, YURIKO KOIKE SEATED AND SPEAKING DURING ONLINE INTERVIEW WITH REUTERS WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO GOVERNOR, YURIKO KOIKE, SAYING: "Tokyo should by all means host (the Olympics) and I want to host them as a symbol of the world coming together to overcome this tough situation and of strengthened bonds among humankind."
  • Embargoed: 27th July 2020 08:11
  • Keywords: COVID-19 Japan Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike new coronavirus
  • Location: TOKYO, YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
  • City: TOKYO, YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001CMN5D1J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, often floated as a future Japanese premier, said on Monday (July 13) the Olympics must go ahead next year as a symbol of world unity in overcoming the novel coronavirus, even as her city grapples with stubborn spikes in cases.
    The 2020 Olympics were scheduled to start this month but were postponed because of the coronavirus. Koike has pledged to win public support for the Games, although a media survey showed a majority think they should be cancelled or postponed again.
    "I want to host them as a symbol of the world coming together to overcome this tough situation and of strengthened bonds among humankind," Koike told Reuters in an online interview. She declined to specify a deadline for deciding if the Games could go ahead.
    Tokyo's jump in COVID-19 cases comes as Abe's government prepares to launch a campaign to promote domestic tourism, but that has raised concern about spreading the virus outside the capital.
    (Production: Akira Tomoshige, Hideto Sakai, Akiko Okamoto)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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