Tokyo 2020 organizers said on Thursday that all 68 Japanese domestic sponsors for the Summer Olympics have agreed in principle to extend their contracts for the delayed Games.

Among them are also those hit hard by a steep fall in travel demand amid the pandemic, such as Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways.

"Partner companies told me about the difficult situation they are in because of the pandemic," Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori told a news conference.

"But they also told me they definitely want the games to be held and that they are willing to offer as much support as they can."

Tokyo 2020 organizers expect more than 22 billion yen ($212 million) in additional contributions from them, Mori said.

Besides tourism and transportation companies, the list of sponsors also includes Canon Inc, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp, and other Japanese household names.

"There must have been various debates within each company ... I believe they have decided to continue cooperating with us upon realizing the historical significance of what may be a once-in-a-hundred-year event."

According to the organizing committee, they are proceeding with the conclusion of contracts with all sponsors based on the agreement.

The Tokyo Olympics had originally been scheduled for 2020 but were postponed by a year because of the pandemic.

Despite the organizers' determined rhetoric to go ahead with the delayed Games no matter what, Japanese residents have been speaking about their worries and hesitations for the Games.

A recent poll carried out by Japanese national broadcaster NHK show two-thirds of the public believe the game should be postponed again or canceled altogether.

On Wednesday, Japan's daily records of COVID-19 cases and fatalities both exceeded their previous records to reach 3,271 and 56, respectively, according to NHK.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover image: Illuminated Olympic rings are displayed before the Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo Tower at Tokyo's waterfront Daiba in Tokyo, Japan, December 1, 2020. /CFP)