FILE – In this Oct. 25, 2014, file photo, Rulon Gardner’s medals are shown at an auctioneer’s warehouse in Salt Lake City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 9:31 AM PT — Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Tokyo Olympics organizers are preparing to host the games in 2020, regardless if the coronavirus is contained. That’s according to the organizing committee’s chief executive who gave an update on the games during an interview Tuesday.
The executive said he hopes holding the event in the midst of a pandemic will help “make a mark and become a legacy for the history of mankind.”
“It is rather difficult for us to expect that the coronavirus pandemic is contained, but if we can deliver the Tokyo Games and Paralympics with coronavirus I think the Tokyo Games will become a role model for the next Olympic Games or other various international events,” stated Toshiro Muto, CEO – Tokyo 2020.
“We are absolutely not considering cancelling it. But we will think about how we can hold it in ways that won’t lead to spread of the virus, including reducing its scale.”
– Toshiro Muto (Tokyo 2020 CEO)#Tokyo2020 #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/MdjaMD6egp— TwoCityTrails
(@TwoCityTrails) February 27, 2020
The official went on to say the postponement has cost the International Olympic Committee about $800 million. He hopes bringing on new sponsors will help pay the debt.
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