#NOTOKYOOLYMPICS

Japan's top COVID adviser says "not normal" for Olympics to be held

June 2, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)

Shigeru Omi, an infectious disease expert who heads a government subcommittee on the coronavirus response, speaks during a House of Representatives committee session in Tokyo on June 2, 2021. (Kyodo)

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's top coronavirus adviser said Wednesday it is "not normal" to host this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Shigeru Omi, an infectious disease expert who heads a government subcommittee on the coronavirus, also said the Tokyo Games organizing committee is responsible for drawing up sufficient anti-virus measures to ensure the safety of the participants.

"It is not normal to (host the games) under the current situation," Omi told a parliament committee, a day before the 50-day countdown to the opening of the Olympics.

"If they were to be held during a pandemic, it is the organizers' responsibility to scale them down as much as possible and strengthen the management system," he said.

The Japanese capital has been under a COVID-19 state of emergency since late April, and opinion polls have repeatedly shown that the Japanese public is largely against going ahead with the games following a one-year postponement.

"Ordinary people will not consider cooperating unless (the organizers) give a clear story on why they should be held and how to minimize risks as one package," he said.

At a different parliament committee, Omi stressed that it is the duty of medical experts to analyze and express their opinions on possible situations that could lead to an increase in infections.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has insisted the Olympics and Paralympics can be held safely by implementing sufficient countermeasures.

The Olympics and Paralympics are expected to involve about 15,000 athletes from around the world and as many as 78,000 officials and workers from overseas.