TOKYO: Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said Monday that there are "many challenges" to holding the Olympics, ahead of discussions with the International Olympic Committee on the potential postponement of the sporting event.

"There are many challenges, but we would like to negotiate with the IOC on what kinds of scenarios are possible," Koike told reporters at the metropolitan government building.

The metropolitan government, the IOC and others plan to discuss responses to the coronavirus pandemic, including the possibility of postponing the Tokyo Games, and come to a decision within four weeks.

At the Tokyo government, one worker said that it will be difficult to hold the Tokyo Games as planned, while another said that there is confusion due to the prevailing sense that the games may be postponed.

There are also concerns among staff that, if the games were to be postponed, it is unclear when the Olympics can be held and on what scale, as well as whether the same competition venues can be used with the postponed games schedules.

On the other hand, some personnel said the fact that the cancellation of the games was ruled out by the IOC is a sliver of hope.

JIJI Press