2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
Yoshiro Mori, president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, meets the press in Tokyo on Feb. 4, 2021. The former Japanese prime minister apologized for remarks he made that have been widely criticized as sexist and outdated. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

The president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee apologized Thursday for "inappropriate" comments he made a day earlier saying women talk too much during meetings, but insisted he will not resign despite mounting calls for his removal.

IOC

THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC), THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (IPC) AND THE TOKYO 2020 ORGANISING COMMITTEE (TOKYO 2020) TODAY PUBLISHED THE FIRST PLAYBOOK, A RESOURCE WHICH OUTLINES THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES KEY STAKEHOLDERS MUST TAKE TO PLAY THEIR ROLE IN ENSURING SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES THIS SUMMER.
Athletes will be limited to the Athletes' Village and venues at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

Athletes will be limited to the Athletes’ Village and competition venues on arrival for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, according to International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president John Coates, who has also reiterated that further postponement of the Games is not an option.

TTOC President Brian Lewis

Following media reports during this week with speculation that the Tokyo Olympic would be cancelled with the continued threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the latest news of a new strain by doctors, president Thomas Bach of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and local organisers are pushing back against those reports.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has pledged to support National Olympic Committees (NOCs) gain access to COVID-19 vaccines for their athletes prior to Tokyo 2020. IOC President Thomas Bach told members and NOCs on separate calls this week that the IOC and the World Health Organization (WHO) would help NOCs struggling to obtain the vaccines in the lead-up to the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, two sources with knowledge of the talks told insidethegames. The IOC has repeatedly said it will not jump the queue ahead of those who need a vaccination most and has insisted it will not be mandatory for athletes to compete at the Games. But Bach and other IOC officials, including Athletes Commission vice-chair Danka Bartekova, have encouraged athletes to have the vaccine when they are able to do so. The IOC has stated publicly on several occasions that it hopes to have many foreign participants as possible vaccinated for COVID-19 before Tokyo 2020. A handful of countries have begun rolling out vaccines in recent weeks, but there is concern that athletes from smaller and less developed nations who are due to compete at Tokyo 2020 will be unable to access them before the Games. IOC President Thomas Bach has claimed there is no reason whatsoever that Tokyo 2020 will not open as scheduled ©Getty Images IOC President Thomas Bach has claimed there is no reason whatsoever that Tokyo 2020 will not open as scheduled ©Getty Images Discussions have taken place between the IOC and the WHO regarding its Covax project, aimed at speeding up the distribution of vaccines in developing countries. The IOC is hopeful the WHO scheme will enable athletes from developing nations to receive the vaccine in time for the Games, scheduled to open on July 23. While the IOC and Tokyo 2020 have stressed the vaccine will not be a "silver bullet" for the Games, their development has nonetheless boosted hopes of the Games going ahead. It forms part of a "toolbox" of countermeasures the IOC and organisers are planning to implement if the Olympics and Paralympics take place as planned. The IOC and Tokyo 2020 are also working on what they call a "playbook" for the Games to ensure the event can be held safely, featuring rapid testing and vaccines. Bach's call with NOCs came hours after British newspaper The Times reported the Japanese Government had privately concluded Tokyo 2020 would be cancelled because of the COVID-19 crisis. The Japanese Government said there was "absolutely no truth" in the report, while the IOC said it remains committed to the Games taking place "this year" - despite growing fears over a rise in coronavirus cases across the world, thought to be caused by new variants of COVID-19. Bach told Kyodo News earlier this week there was "no reason whatsoever" to think Tokyo 2020 will not open as scheduled and said the IOC did not have a "plan B" for the Games. The IOC has vowed to help countries with access to COVID-19 vaccines ©Getty Images

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has pledged to support National Olympic Committees (NOCs) gain access to COVID-19 vaccines for their athletes prior to Tokyo 2020.

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  2. Thomas Bach says entire Olympic movement united in determination to stage Tokyo Games
  3. IOC President Thomas Bach Addresses Tokyo Games Cancellation Rumors (Video)
  4. Japanese Government claim "absolutely no truth" in report of Tokyo 2020 cancellation
  5. IOC chief declares 'there is no plan B' and that Tokyo Olympics will go ahead
  6. Olympic athletes and officials ponder vaccine dilemma as Tokyo Games loom
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