Tokyo 2020 President Reaffirms Commitment for a Safe Games

(ATR) Tokyo 2020 President Hashimoto Seiko spoke of the organizing committee’s commitment to delivering a safe and secure Olympic Games this summer when quizzed about the possibility of a cancellation during her weekly press conference on Friday.

Following an admission by Nikai Toshihiro, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, on Thursday that cancelling the Games "is still an option", Hashimoto was asked for her thoughts on those remarks and what it would take for the Games to be called off.

"We are committed to delivering a safe and secure Games," Hashimoto firmly responded.

"We're not thinking of cancelling the Olympics."

President Hashimoto, who succeeded former Japanese prime minister Mori Yoshiro in the role in February, shared her thoughts on the views expressed by Nikai.

"The words of the secretary-general is not something I heard directly. I heard through news. Minister Nikai is probably concerned, I think that’s where his comment is coming from, the fact that he’s concerned, is a point that we need to take seriously as the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, to make sure that we can deliver a safe and secure Games.

"His comment reminds us how important it is for us to feel confident and be fully prepared in delivering the Games so that the consumers including Mr. Nikai feel that the Games will be safe."

President Hashimoto provided some insight into the current strategy of the organizing committee in regards to curtailing the potential spread of the virus and how all stakeholders are part of the decision-making process for spectators being in attendance and under what conditions they would be permitted.

"All your concerns are being taken very seriously as we plan to make the Games safe and secure for everyone. All athletes in the Olympics, Paralympics, stakeholders, viewers, spectators, people who are supporting the Games, for them we have to deliver a safe and secure Games otherwise we can’t deliver them. Two weeks is the period where people will have to refrain from going out and as for the volume of tests for athletes and media and stakeholders that will be included in next edition of the playbook to be released in April.

"The stricter the rules the safer and more secure the Games will be."

The Tokyo 2020 supremo conceded that there has to be a degree for flexibility in the rules in order for the mass of media and officials and staff to be able to do their job most effectively.

"We are receiving requests from the media to use public transport and as much as possible we’d like to be flexible but if we allow too much flexibility we’d sacrifice safety and security. The wonderful aspect of the Games and Japan is something we wish for the media to be able to report fully.

"We need to create bubbles for preventions and the safe implementation of COVID-19 countermeasures and connect them all and how we achieve that is being discussed and the playbook has to made so that everyone can understand it easily."

A decision regarding the status of spectators being accepted into venues looks set to be decided in the coming weeks.

"During April the directions will be judged and by also monitoring the ongoing pandemic situation, that’s how we’ll remain flexible. In some prefectures there are stronger measures in place currently for the spread of the virus and by monitoring it we will know which direction to take as we make the final judgement but we need to remain flexible.

"The top priority is a safe and secure Games delivery. We need to be very serious in this area, taking on board medical and scientific viewpoints on how COVID-19 countermeasures should be taken to allow us how to have fans in the venue is a key decision point. Whether spectators can eat and drink has to be determined as well, although, of course, they need to drink water as a heatstroke countermeasure (for hydration) but whether fans can cheer needs to looked from a scientific basis and we’ll involve experts as we look at each detail meticulously to reach a conclusion."

When questioned about prioritizing vaccines for athletes, Hashimoto underlined that the vaccine is not mandatory for athletes and officials to participate in the Games.

"For Tokyo 2020, COVID-19 countermeasures, the vaccination is not a prerequisite. Regarding vaccinations IOC President Thomas Bach said that we should have as many people vaccinated as much as possible as we prepare for the Games. President Bach has urged and encouraged all countries to vaccinate their stakeholders and athletes but, as of today within japan, whether there are priority measures planned the answer is no."

President Hashimoto would not be drawn on the specifics of what would determine that staging the Games would no longer be feasible, instead reiterating the organizing committee’s determination to reassure everyone that the Games will be delivered successfully.

"There are a variety of concerns, as the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, we are not thinking of cancelling the Games, only how we can deliver a safe and secure Games. We are focusing on the methods of how we deliver a safe and secure Games. On a daily basis we are making the utmost effort to achieve this."

Written and reported by Mark Pickering in Tokyo

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