Japan's Prime Minister says the Tokyo Olympics will go ahead in July "without a hitch", despite the postponement of sporting events due to coronavirus concerns.
Shinzo Abe also stated the International Olympic Committee would have the final decision on whether the Games will be staged as planned.
"We hope to overcome the spread of infections first and foremost and hold the Olympics as planned without a hitch," he told a press conference.
"At this point, we're not in a situation in which I need to declare a state of emergency. We will carry out necessary and sufficient economic and fiscal steps flexibly and without a pause."
The Olympic torch was lit in Greece this week and will reach Japan with a ceremony in Fukushima on March 26th which Abe hopes to attend:
"The Olympic flame will arrive in Japan. I'd like to go to Fukushima to witness the start of the Olympic torch relay. We have to overcome the spread of the infection and want to hold the Olympics and Paralympics as planned.”
The Olympics are due to take place in the Japanese capital between July 24th and August 9th and the Paralympics between August 25th and September 9th.
Japan has had more than 1,400 cases and 28 deaths resulting from Covid-19.
