Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has reiterated his intention to strike a balance between hosting the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and efforts to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
"We'll ensure that athletes from around the world can participate without worrying about infection, and that the lives and health of the people of Japan will be protected. I believe this is a prerequisite for hosting the Games," Suga said Monday at a meeting of the House of Councillors Audit Committee.
"If we can't protect people's lives and health, naturally we won't hold [the Games]," he said.
Regarding preconditions for holding the Games, the prime minister said, "I want to make a firm statement to the International Olympic Committee [about the requirements]." As for the decision on whether to hold the Games, however, Suga said only, "I myself am not the organizer," and did not clarify the specific criteria involved.
Opposition parties demanded that the government's subcommittee on novel coronavirus measures, chaired by Shigeru Omi, be consulted on whether to hold the Games. Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister in charge of coronavirus measures, rejected this idea, saying: "The subcommittee is not in a position to deliberate on whether to hold the Olympics. It has no authority to do so."
Omi said it was "our responsibility" to consider the risks if the Olympics were held.
Regarding a series of scandals at the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, including the wining and dining of officials, Suga said: "The situation has seriously undermined the public's trust in the administration, and the government must reflect on this deeply. We will strive to restore people's trust in government."
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