Arab News Japan

TOKYO: World Athletics President Sebastian Coe today met Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike and offered cooperation towards making the Olympic and Paralympic Games a safe one amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting was held at the Metropolitan Government office in the Japanese capital with less than three months to go until the scheduled start of the Olympics.

Coe, head of the world’s governing organization for track and field headed the organizing committee for the 2012 London Games.

Coe told Koike he’s aware of the concern of local residents and emphasized on the importance of safety for both the athletes and the locals.

Koike reportedly said she is determined to stage the Games successfully despite challenges. ” We will cooperate with all parties to make the tournaments safe and secure for everyone,” she said.

Governor Yuriko Koike also stressed the importance of holding test events in order to ensure that COVID-19 countermeasures are taken properly.

According to the AP, Coe attended the half-marathon test event run in Japan’s northern city of Sapporo on Wednesday which made him confident that the Olympic marathon can be held successfully in the city when the Tokyo Games open.