Draw made for Tokyo 2020 Olympic basketball tournaments

19:47, February 02, 2021

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  Olympics will happen 'however coronavirus evolves': Tokyo 2020 chief

  A man walks past the Olympic rings outside the Japan Olympic Museum in Tokyo on January 28, 2021. (Photo: AFP)The pandemic-postponed Olympics will go ahead this summer "however the coronavirus evolves", Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori said Tuesday, brushing aside doubts about the event."Well certainly go ahead however the coronavirus (pandemic) evolves," he told a meeting of Olympic organisers and members of Japans ruling party in Tokyo."We must go beyond discussion about whether we will hold it or not. Its about how we will do it. Lets think about a new kind of Olympics on this occasion," he added.The comments come with organisers and government officials insisting the Games can be held safely despite surging Covid-19 infections around the world, including in Japan.Japans Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to announce a month-long extension of a virus state of emergency later Tuesday -- meaning the measure will run until March 7 in Tokyo and several other parts of the country.Tighter border restrictions imposed after infections surged have already forced the postponement of some sporting fixtures including this years first Olympic test event, an artistic swimming qualifier that was scheduled for March.The nationwide Olympic torch relay is still due to begin on March 25.On Wednesday, organisers are expected to outline further details of the extensive coronavirus countermeasures they have devised for the 2020 Games, which were pushed back to 2021 last March as the virus spread around the globe.But public opinion appears opposed to holding the Games this year, with 80 percent of Japanese people asked in a January survey backing either further postponement or a cancellation.Organisers have said neither of those options are on the table, and have received strong support from both the International Olympic Committee and athletes around the world.

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  IOC chief reaffirms commitment to Tokyo 2020

  Thomas Bach.International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach on Wednesday reiterated the IOC's commitment to delivering the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, adding that preparation work for Beijing 2022 is progressing steadily.Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, all 12

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  Tokyo Olympics test event to be postponed: reports

  This picture shows an indoor view of Tokyo Aquatics Centre, a venue for swimming, diving and artistic swimming of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics Games. (Photo: AFP)The first Tokyo Olympics test event of 2021 will be postponed due to travel restrictions under Japans coronavirus state of emergency, media reported Wednesday.The artistic swimming test event -- which will double as the sports final qualifier for the Games, and is set to feature around 10 countries -- was scheduled to be held at the Tokyo Aquatics Center from March 4-7.It could now be held in April or May, according to several Japanese media outlets citing sources close to the matter.The International Swimming Federation (FINA) and Japan Swimming Federation (JASF) have determined travel restrictions on foreign nationals coming into Japan would make the event too difficult to organise, the reports said.FINA, JASF and Tokyo 2020 did not immediately respond to requests for comment.A man wearing a protective mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walks near banners of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. (Photo: AP)Japans borders are currently all but closed to foreign visitors, with Tokyo and other parts of the country under a state of emergency until at least February 7.Athletes coming to Japan to prepare for the coronavirus-postponed 2020 Games had been exempt from the entry ban, but the government revoked the privilege earlier this month.The artistic swimming event was set to be the first test event to be held with anti-virus measures in place.In December, Tokyo 2020 chiefs unveiled a 53-page anti-virus rulebook that they say will allow the Games to be held safely without a vaccine, even if the pandemic is not yet under control.