Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Yoshiro Mori, the head of the Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee, says there is no option but to host the Olympic Games as scheduled, Japanese local media reported. Mori made the remarks in a New Year address to committee members and staff workers on Jan. 12.

“If I, as chief of the committee, begin to feel unsure even slightly at this stage, it will affect everything,” he said. “We definitely should push forward as that is the only option for us.”

Mori has faced criticism as head of the organizing committee. “It is the first time in my life to experience (such a high level of criticism),” Mori said, adding that it was worse than when he was prime minister when his approval ratings were very low. “There were ups and downs and this is my last task,” said Mori, who turns 84 in July. “I want to fight with you until the Olympics are over.”

According to a survey by The Asahi Shimbun, 30 percent of respondents were in favor of holding the rescheduled event while 32 percent supported cancellation and 33 percent called for the Games to be rescheduled again.

Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the committee also said that not holding the Olympics is not on the agenda at the moment. “It is our mission to ask what we should do to hold the Olympics under the current circumstances, rather than ask about its fate.”