TOKYO: Toshiro Muto, director-general of the organizing committee for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, said Thursday he cannot comment on a media report that the Tokyo Games will be canceled unless they are held in summer 2021.

"I didn't hear about (the cancelation option) directly from (International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach)," Muto told reporters online.

The telepress conference was held after British broadcaster BBC aired on Wednesday its interview with Bach, in which the IOC chief revealed that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made it clear that next summer was "the last option" when they decided in telephone talks on March 24 to push back the Tokyo Games from this summer due to the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

"As far as I remember, Abe did not use the words 'last option,'" said Muto, who also took part in the talks.

On Bach-proposed consideration of the possibility of holding the 2021 Summer Games behind closed doors, Muto said, "It's too early to have such discussions." But at the same time, he pointed out that some anti-coronavirus measures may become necessary.

JIJI Press