Tokyo 2020 President Yoshirō Mori has warned the Olympic and Paralympic Games could not be delayed again if the pandemic is still an issue next year.
Mori claimed there is "absolutely no chance" of pushing Tokyo 2020 back again, as reported by Kyodo News.
Following the rise of coronavirus cases around the world, the Olympics and Paralympics were postponed to July 23rd to August 8th and August 24th to September 5th, 2021, respectively.
There are concerns the pandemic may still impact the Games, however, with Mori quashing claims that this would result in yet another postponement.
"Also thinking about athletes and issues over Games management, it is technically difficult to delay it by two years," he said.
Mori had asked Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to consider a two-year postponement when the two met for talks on March 24th, as reported by The Asahi Shimbun.
Abe pushed for a one-year delay, with Mori claiming that the Japanese leader had "gambled on 2021".
Richard Pound, the longest-serving member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), also believes 2021 will be the only chance for Tokyo 2020 to take place.
"The Japanese have said we can keep the ball up in the air for a year, but not longer than a year," he said, speaking to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
"We really have to hope that we get this act together in time for 2021."
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