Biden reaffirms support for Tokyo Olympics to Japan's Suga
US President Joe Biden reaffirmed his support for the Tokyo Olympics at a gathering with japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Saturday (Jun 12), highlighting the need of imposing public health measures ensuring the safety of these involved.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, that have been postponed last year as a result of global spread of the corona virus, are scheduled to start on Jul 23, in the face of opposition from almost all of the general public, many Japanese companies and medical staff.
At a meeting with Suga on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in the British seaside resort of Carbis Bay, Biden also raised a variety of other issues including COVID-19, North Korea, China and climate change, the White House said in a statement. "President Biden affirmed his support for the Tokyo Olympic Games continue with all public health measures essential to protect athletes, staff and spectators," it said. "President Biden expressed pride in the US athletes who've trained for the Tokyo Games and you will be competing in the very best traditions of the Olympic spirit," it said.
The comments echoed an identical statement manufactured in April during Suga's visit to Washington. Even as Tokyo has battled a fourth wave of infections and is under a state of emergency, japan government and the organizers have said they'll just do it - barring "Armageddon", as you International Olympic Committee member put it. Tokyo 2020 will be "grateful" if G7 countries could support the Summer Games going ahead as planned, Tokyo 2020 organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto said on Friday.
