TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide expressed his strong determination on Friday to hold the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in July-September next year, as currently scheduled.

At a meeting of the government’s Headquarters for the Promotion of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, Suga said he wants to hold the Tokyo Games “as a testament to humanity’s victory over the novel coronavirus.”

Suga, chief of the headquarters, also expressed hope that the Tokyo Games will showcase to the world the reconstruction of areas afflicted by the March 2011 major earthquake and tsunami.

It was the first meeting of the panel since Suga took office last month, and all ministers of his cabinet took part in the latest meeting.

At the meeting, Suga stressed the need to take “effective measures” against the coronavirus for athletes, spectators and other people related to the Tokyo Games.

He also instructed ministers to make necessary coordination on ways to work with local governments and secure health and medical systems, including coronavirus tests.

Suga told Seiko Noda, minister in charge of the Tokyo Games, to play a leading role in drawing up an interim report on measures against infectious diseases at the games, to be compiled by the end of the year at the earliest.

He also called for every effort to prepare for cyberattacks and ensure the safety of the quadrennial sporting events.

JIJI Press