Organizers are growing increasingly concerned that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games might be affected by the outbreak of the new coronavirus, which has spread to more than 20 countries.
"We are extremely worried that the spread of the virus could pour cold water on momentum for the games," Toshiro Muto, chief executive officer of the Tokyo Organising Committee, said during a meeting with the International Paralympic Committee on Wednesday. "I hope that it can be resolved as quickly as possible."
Preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus during the 2020 Games was the main topic of discussion during a working group Friday at the Diet between Seiko Hashimoto, the Cabinet minister in charge of the games, and members of the organizing committees as well as representatives of local and regional municipalities.