Japan's top COVID-19 adviser on Wednesday criticized International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach for visiting Tokyo again to attend the opening ceremony of the Paralympics, saying it runs counter to "common sense" amid an alarming rise in coronavirus infections.
"I wonder why he bothered to come. He should be able to judge using common sense," said Shigeru Omi, chairman of a government subcommittee on the coronavirus response, at a Diet committee session.
Omi questioned the rationale behind Bach's decision to travel again to Tokyo to take part in events related to the Paralympics, given that the government has been urging people to stay at home and telework to help curb coronavirus infections, and suggested the Olympic chief's return to Tokyo would send the wrong message to the public.