TOKYO, July 23 — Japan holds subdued celebrations Thursday to mark one year until the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with the coronavirus pandemic raising stark concerns about whether the Games will go ahead. In Tokyo, which should have been buzzing with thousands of athletes and fans by now,...
Thursday, 23 Jul 2020 04:18 PM MYT
In Tokyo, which should have been buzzing with thousands of athletes and fans by now, organisers will hold a small event at an empty National Stadium after the public were barred following a new surge in infections. “They will be the first worldwide gathering after the coronavirus,” International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach insisted last week.
Since then, restrictions have been eased across much of Europe as infections and deaths from the virus decline, but elsewhere — including in the United States, Brazil and India — the disease remains rampant. “I’m afraid about the situation even next year,” said Sachiko Ahunwan, a 50-year-old department store employee. “It’s unclear how far the coronavirus can be settled,” she told AFP.
Winning agreement from stadiums that were booked up long after the original Olympic date was considered among the most difficult challenges organisers faced.
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