Will they or won't they? There has been much speculation recently whether or not the Tokyo Olympics would take place July. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach vowed that the event would go ahead. He said: "Our task is to organize the Olympic Games and not to cancel them." He added that the IOC is working "day and night" to host a safe event. IOC spokesperson Dick Pound said he was "confident" the Games would go ahead, saying: "I think unless some drastic changes occur, this is a manageable proposition and I hope that we're able to pull it ." He added: "There are no certainties life and what might happen the virus."
The Games are due to open the 23rd of July. It is a logistical nightmare authorities, who have to secure the safety 11,000 athletes, the world's media and spectators. More than 25,000 journalists attended the Rio de Janeiro Games 2016. Tokyo is currently under a state emergency amid a third wave infections. Officials are hopeful warmer weather and a vaccine rollout will see safer conditions. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is adamant that the Games will take place. However, an anti-Olympics group Tokyo said: "The government is obsessed hosting the Olympics. It's becoming clear this coronavirus disaster that the Olympics would sacrifice people's lives."
