UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday paid his respects to Olympic athletes around the world and thanked the people of host Japan ahead of the start this week of the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.

Noting that the Olympic spirit brings out humanity's best in a video message, Guterres said, "Every athlete in Tokyo has overcome enormous obstacles and demonstrated great determination.

"If we bring that same energy to our global challenges, we can achieve anything."