The United States advisory discouraging travel to Japan would not greatly affect Olympic attendance, the country’s government said Tuesday.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has not signaled any intent to alter plans to carry out the Tokyo Olympic Games set to begin July 23 despite the State Department’s Monday travel advisory warning, which pointed to a “high level” of COVID-19 cases in Japan.
“We believe there is no change to the U.S. position supporting the Japanese government’s determination to achieve the games,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said during a press conference Tuesday.
Japanese officials denied rumors or reports suggesting the possibility of COVID-19 affecting the event, and the U.S. State Department’s advisory does not alter “the U.S. position supporting the Japanese government’s determination to achieve the games,” Kato said, according to the Associated Press.
OLYMPICS SHOULD BE CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19 SURGE, SAY TOKYO DOCTORS
The games were supposed to take place in 2020, but the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic forced a postponement.
COVID-19 cases have been rising in Japan since March 6, when the seven-day average of new cases hit a low of 934. It reached 4,828 by Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Concerns about a possible cancellation sprung up again earlier in May when International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach’s scheduled visit to Tokyo was postponed due to the recent outbreak of virus cases.
Influence is mounting from public voices in opposition to the Olympics taking place while virus cases are spiking in some parts of the world.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is also facing pressure from the Tokyo Medical Practitioners Association, which called on Suga to convince the IOC to cancel the games.
When the games commence in July, only athletes, their families, and sporting officials are permitted to attend. Fans will be prohibited from attending the 2021 Olympics.
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Olympic attendees will not be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, though it is recommended, the IOC announced in February. Those flying to Tokyo for the event will be required to submit proof of a negative virus test 72 hours before flying.
