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SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021 Olympics chief urges to support Games as COVID hits Village

TOKYO: IOC chief coronavirus measures, including daily urged the Japanese people to get tests for athletes, are working. behind the Tokyo Olympics yesterday He also held the door open to a as the first coronavirus case hit the possible return of fans if conditions Games Village, prompting fresh jitters improve, citing a communique issued about the health risks posed by the after talks between the IOC, giant event. International Paralympic Committee, Bach, who has faced scattered Tokyo 2020, Japanese government protests since arriving in Japan, and Tokyo authority. appealed to the public to throw their “We will keep monitoring the anti- support behind the athletes despite COVID developments. And if the cir- fears of a spike in cases as thousands cumstances should change, then we of international visitors arrive. The do have another immediate five par- International Olympic Committee ties meeting to address this with the president said he was “very well relevant anti COVID-19 measures,” aware of the skepticism” surrounding said Bach. the postponed 2020 Games, which have attracted low opinion-poll rat- Athletes ‘probably very worried’ ings for months. Anti-Olympics protesters held up “I appeal to the Japanese people to placards during Bach’s visit to welcome these athletes here for the Hiroshima on Friday and about 30 competition of their life,” Bach said, demonstrators were blocked by police insisting the Tokyo Olympics were outside Saturday’s IOC executive safe, calling them the “most restrictive board meeting at a luxury hotel in sports event... in the entire world”. Tokyo. “I would like once more to ask and A welcome reception for Bach to invite the Japanese people, humbly, today will be attended by Japanese to welcome and support the athletes Prime Minister and 40 from around the world,” he added. guests, according to reports. But Bach TOKYO: This picture shows the National Stadium, the main venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, lit up at Bach’s plea comes just six days before said “we are just guests” at the event, dusk in Tokyo on Friday. — AF the opening ceremony for the Games, which will take place while Tokyo which will take place in biosecure remains under a state of emergency. “bubble” conditions and largely with- “We are the guests of the organiz- ting they are “probably very worried”. Village, and urged people taking part in Prime minister Suga said he hoped out fans. ing committee for this invitation and Several competitors have expressed the Games to stick by the anti-coron- the Olympics would bring excitement, It also coincided with the first case in we trust that the organizing commit- the Olympic Village, concerning an concern over conditions at the avirus rules. “Athletes who are coming even if they are taking place behind tee will follow all the regulations and unnamed person who is now in isolation. Olympics, which are marked by ubiqui- to Japan are probably very worried. I closed doors. “Even without spectators, However, Bach said just 15 people had restrictions,” he said. Earlier, Games tous temperature checks, hand sanitizer understand that,” Hashimoto said. “That I think it is important to bring excite- tested positive out of 15,000 arrivals in chief Seiko Hashimoto tried to reas- and daily testing. Organizers pledged is the reason why we need to make full ment... to people in Japan and the July, citing it as proof that the strict anti- sure athletes arriving in Japan, admit- full transparency about cases in the disclosure.” world,” he said on Nippon TV. — AFP