Biden reaffirms support for Tokyo Olympics to Japan's Suga
13 June, 2021
US President Joe Biden reaffirmed his support for the Tokyo Olympics at a gathering with japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Saturday (Jun 12), highlighting the need of imposing public health measures ensuring the safety of these involved.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which were postponed last year because of the global spread of the coronavirus, are scheduled to begin on Jul 23, in the face of opposition from almost all of the public, many Japanese companies and medical staff.
At a meeting with Suga on the sidelines of the Band of Seven summit in the British seaside resort of Carbis Bay, Biden also raised a range of other issues including COVID-19, North Korea, China and climate change, the White House said in a statement.
"President Biden affirmed his support for the Tokyo Olympic Games continue with all public health measures essential to protect athletes, staff and spectators," it said.
"President Biden expressed pride in the US athletes who've trained for the Tokyo Games and you will be competing in the very best traditions of the Olympic spirit," it said.
The comments echoed an identical statement made in April during Suga's visit to Washington.
Even while Tokyo has battled a fourth wave of infections and is under a state of emergency, the Japanese government and the organisers have said they'll go ahead - barring "Armageddon", as you International Olympic Committee member put it.
Tokyo 2020 will be "grateful" if G7 countries could support the summertime Games going ahead as planned, Tokyo 2020 organising committee president Seiko Hashimoto said on Friday.
Source: