Olympic chief postpones Tokyo trip due to COVID

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach’s visit to Japan, scheduled for later this month, Tokyo 2020 Olympics organizers said on Monday.

Japan’s state of emergency was extended last Friday until May 31. Bach’s visit may not happen until June, according to the local TV station Fuji News Network.

“In the light of the extension of the state of emergency last week and various circumstances we are facing, the visit of IOC President Bach to Japan scheduled for 17 and 18 May has been postponed,” Tokyo 2020 said in a statement.

“We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Japan and other relevant factors and will rearrange his visit to Japan as soon as possible.”

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said that he has never “put the Olympics first,” on a day when an opinion poll showed nearly 60% of people in the country want the Olympics canceled.

The Olympics was scheduled to begin in less than three months.

“My priority has been to protect the lives and health of the Japanese population. We must first prevent the spread of the virus,” Suga told a parliamentary committee meeting when asked if the Games will continue despite the COVID-19 infections spike.