Tokyo 2020 CEO Muto denounces cancellation claim
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Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee CEO Toshiro Muto speaks during a press conference as the new dates for Tokyo Olympic Games announced in Tokyo, Japan, March 30, 2020. /VCG

Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee CEO Toshiro Muto speaks during a press conference as the new dates for Tokyo Olympic Games announced in Tokyo, Japan, March 30, 2020. /VCG

Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto on Thursday denounced claimed that the IOC will have the Olympic Games canceled if it cannot be held in 2021. 

Muto told reporters in an online news conference that there is no "common understanding" between the IOC and Tokyo 2020 about canceling the Games beyond 2021. 

The comments come after IOC President Thomas Bach said in an interview with the BBC, that the Games might be canceled if the coronavirus cannot be controlled next year. 

Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori also said last month when he was asked the same question. "In that case, it's canceled," Mori said. 

"Mr. Mori was trying to say is that we should have the mentality to prepare the Games so that it can take place next year," Muto said. 

"I don't think they have a common understanding about canceling the Games." 

Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee President Yoshiro Mori (L) and CEO Toshiro Muto attend a press conference after the IOC-Tokyo 2020 Executive Project Review in Tokyo, Japan, April 16, 2020. /VCG

Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee President Yoshiro Mori (L) and CEO Toshiro Muto attend a press conference after the IOC-Tokyo 2020 Executive Project Review in Tokyo, Japan, April 16, 2020. /VCG

Asked if the Games could be held behind closed doors, Muto said, "We have more than one year until the Games, it is too early to have such discussion."

"We need to carry out measures to fight COVID-19," he said. "However, we don't believe it is the time to answer specific questions related to countermeasures."

Tokyo 2020 organizers are facing the giant task of reorganizing the Olympics after it was postponed by one year and will be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021. 

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency