The leader of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has said that the Tokyo Olympics should be held in order to show the world what can be achieved with the right plan and measures.
Speaking in Tokyo before the International Olympic Committee on July 21, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the world needed the Olympics “as a celebration of hope”.
“The Olympics have the power to unite the world, to inspire it and to show what is possible,” he said.
The Olympics will kick off on July 23 as safety concerns escalate as thousands of athletes and support staff travel to Japan as the coronavirus Delta variant spreads rapidly around the world.
Tedros spoke as organizers reported eight new infections among Games participants, bringing the total number of infections to 79.
The head of the WHO has said that the Olympic Games should not be judged by the number of cases of coronavirus, as the elimination of the risk is impossible.
“A sign of success is ensuring that every case is identified, isolated and tracked, in order to stop the chain of spread,” he said.
Health experts have warned that the Olympics could turn into “super-spreading” events, given the dozens of people involved.
The Olympic Games, which were postponed from last year due to the pandemic, will be held this year without spectators, for security reasons.
