International Olympic Committee President Bach (left) met with the new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in Tokyo on the 16th. (Image source: Reuters)
China Daily Network, November 16 (Sun Ruonan) According to the Associated Press, IOC President Bach met with the new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in Tokyo on the 16th to discuss matters concerning the hosting of the Olympics. After the meeting, Bach said that in order to ensure the safety of the Japanese public, athletes and spectators who will participate in the Olympics next year may face vaccinations.
This is Bach’s first meeting with Yoshihide Suga and his first visit to Japan since he announced the postponement of the Olympic Games in March. Bach said: "In order to protect the Japanese people, and out of respect for the Japanese people, if there is a vaccine (new crown pneumonia) by then, the International Olympic Committee will make great efforts to make as many people as possible-Olympic athletes and tourists arrive. The vaccination has been completed before here. This way next year spectators will be able to enter the Olympic venues and have a safe environment. We are very confident about this."
During the two-day trip to Japan, Bach arranged non-stop meetings and group photos to convince the Japanese people that it is safe to hold the Olympic Games during the epidemic. The Tokyo Olympics will be held on July 23, 2021.
The vaccine project developed by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in the United States made progress last week, which will greatly help the International Olympic Committee and local organizers to promote the smooth hosting of the Olympic Games.
According to reports, some athletes and fans from abroad will almost certainly object to any vaccination requirements. Bach has previously hinted that vaccination is mandatory for the sake of the unity of the Olympics. Japan has recently played baseball games in some stadiums, and the stadiums accommodate about 30,000 spectators. In addition, Japan also held a gymnastics show, with 22 athletes and thousands of spectators from abroad.
