Skip to Main Content

Road To The Olympic Games

Olympics

Japan gets unanimous support from G7 for holding Olympic Games in Tokyo this year

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced Japan received unanimous support for holding the 2021 Olympics Games this summer.

Nation last of G7 countries to roll out vaccine for COVID-19

Thomson Reuters ·
Despite more than half of Japanese firms thinking the Tokyo Games should be cancelled or postponed, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga gained unanimous support to hold the Olympics at a G7 summit Friday. (David Mareuil/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Friday that Group of Seven leaders gave unanimous support for his bid to hold the Tokyo Olympics this summer, as the country struggles to contain the coronavirus and to inoculate its citizens swiftly.

"I told the meeting that I want to realize a safe and secure Olympics as testimony that human beings will have won the battle with the coronavirus," Suga told reporters following a virtual G7 summit meeting held on Friday.

"I was able to gain support from all the leaders. It was so encouraging."

The Tokyo Olympics were originally scheduled for 2020, but were postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Japan kicked off its inoculation drive against the virus on Wednesday, becoming the last member of G7 countries to do so.

More than half of Japanese firms believe the July 23-Aug. 8 Games should be cancelled or postponed again, a survey by think tank Tokyo Shoko Research showed this week, underscoring doubts over the viability of the premier sporting event.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC Sports

Related Stories

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you.

Sign up now

Comments

To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.

By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.

Become a CBC Member

Join the conversationCreate account

Already have an account?

now