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| The Olympics began Friday with the opening ceremony at the National Stadium, held without spectators after organizers agreed to ban fans at almost all venues to avoid the spread of infections. (Photo by= Kyodo) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] The Tokyo governor says they agreed the games are going "very smoothly," during Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike met on Sunday to discuss the Olympics being held in the capital and COVID-19 countermeasures, Kyodo reported.
They agreed to continue preparations for the Paralympics kicking off next month, Koike told reporters, in a nearly hour-long meeting at the prime minister's official residence. The Olympics started Friday with the opening ceremony at the National Stadium, held without spectators after organizers agreed to ban fans at almost all venues to avoid the spread of infections. Koike called on residents of Tokyo, which is under its fourth state of emergency, to cheer on athletes at home with family and avoid going out.
The capital reported 1,763 new COVID-19 cases, the most ever for a Sunday when less testing over the weekend usually leads to lower numbers, with the seven-day moving average jumping 36.1 percent from a week earlier. Meanwhile, the games organizing committee has reported 132 positive cases since the beginning of this month, including 13 athletes, 40 officials, and 66 contractors. Hoping the Tokyo Olympics will give him a needed popularity boost heading into a party leadership race and general election this year, Suga has vowed to stage a "safe and secure" games with adequate COVID-19 countermeasures to prevent a fresh surge in infections.
