The Games are scheduled to start from July 23, 2021, having already been postponed a year amid the virus outbreak.
This would be the strongest statement on canceling the Olympics and Paralympics from organizers, who have routinely said they are focusing on plans to hold the Games.
Asked in an interview with Nikkan Sports about another postponement of the event if the virus is ongoing, Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori said: “No. It will be canceled then.
“The Olympics were canceled in the past for problems like war. We are fighting against an invisible enemy now.”
Mori reiterated that organizers are still working towards holding the Games next year.
“The Olympics would be much more valuable than any Olympics in the past if we could go ahead with them after winning this battle,” he said.
“We have to believe this otherwise our hard work and efforts will not be rewarded.”
Meanwhile, leading Japanese doctor Yoshitake Yokokura said that it would be “difficult to hold the Olympics” without an effective vaccine.
Source: Olympics could be canceled if coronavirus persists, official says
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