Olympic official seeks Biden’s help to save Tokyo Games: ‘It depends on US’

The US brings the largest contingent of athletes and the richest pot of television money to the Games. It is also Japan’s ally and military protector, and an expression of determination to continue will reassure a skeptical Japanese public and other countries that are not sure about sending athletes to Tokyo.

Uncertainty over the Games increases as virus cases recover in many countries and vaccination programs falter. A British newspaper reported last week that Japan had given up hosting the Olympics this year. The government calls the report ‘categorically untrue’.

The president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, called on Friday with national Olympic committees around the world to reassure them about the Games and discuss coronavirus vaccinations for athletes. He said there was no alternative plan for the Tokyo Olympics.

Mr. Takahashi said it was the most important task to keep the US afloat with the Games, including Olympic broadcaster NBC.

‘It depends on the US that I do not want to say it, but it is not Thomas Bach and the IOC who can make the decision on the Games. “They do not have the level of leadership,” he said.

Mr. Biden has not spoken publicly about the Olympics since becoming president, as he prefers to fight the pandemic. On a question about mr. Biden’s views on the Olympics on Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said she was not familiar with them.

Following the British newspaper report, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in a statement on Friday that it was focused “on the health and readiness of Team USA athletes before the Games this summer.”

In response to the proposal of mr. Takahashi that a strong statement from Mr. Biden is needed, an IOC spokesman said: ‘It is unfortunate that Mr. Takahashi does not know the facts. First, it is USOPC that decides on the US Olympic and Paralympic team. Second: USOPC has never left any doubt about their participation. Therefore, his comments are outdated. ”

The spokesperson did not want to comment on the proposal of Mr. Takahashi dat mnr. Bach and the IOC could not make a decision on the Games.

Despite polls denying about 80% of the Japanese public refusing to host the Games this year, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga also reiterated a positive view. “I am determined to host the Games in July safely and securely, in close cooperation with organizations inside and outside the country,” he told parliament on Friday.

In recent days, however, there have been more open discussions in Japan about alternatives to hosting the Games this summer. Senior figures in a minority party loosely linked to the government have suggested that the Olympic schedule could be pushed back, while Tokyo will replace Paris in 2024 or host the next open lock in 2032. consider removing the event altogether.

Kaori Yamaguchi, a member of the Olympic Committee in Japan, said the IOC should be more open this year about possible alternatives to the Games. She said it was worth discussing the option of postponing the event to an indefinite point in the future. If Japan continues with the Olympics and the Games experience problems such as clusters of contamination, it will affect their legacy and countries will be less willing to host the event, she said.

“It’s scary not to have a plan B,” she said.

—Rachel Bachman and Chieko Tsuneoka contributed to this article.

Write to Alastair Gale by [email protected]