The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games should be cancelled if the coronavirus pandemic makes it impossible to host them safely, said a senior member of the Japanese government.
Toshihiro Nikai, part of the country’s ruling Liberal Democratic party, raised the possibility if the Games being abandoned less than 100 days before the scheduled July 23 start date.
“If it becomes impossible, then it should be called off,” said Nikai.
“What is the point of the Olympics if it’s responsible for spreading infections? We will have to make a decision at that point.”
Last month, a decision was taken to entry to overseas spectators and place limits on the number of delegates coming into Japan, but Nikai’s comments are at odd with the largely united front presented by the national government. The Tokyo metropolitan authorities, the local Games organising committee, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee.
“What I meant was, if you are asking whether the Olympics and Paralympics should be held no matter what, I would say no,” added Nikai later in a statement.
