Japan PM says ‘never put Olympics first’ amid games opposition

New poll shows nearly 60 percent of Japanese want the already delayed Tokyo Games cancelled.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Monday that he had never “put the Olympics first”, as an opinion poll showed nearly 60 percent of Japanese want the Olympics cancelled less than three months before they are due to begin. Japan has extended a state of emergency in Tokyo until the end of May and is struggling to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases, raising further questions about whether the Games should take place. Its vaccination rate is the lowest among wealthy nations. International Olympic officials, Tokyo planners and Suga himself have insisted the $15.4bn event will go ahead in “a safe and secure” way. Overseas spectators have been banned and planners issued an elaborate playbook of rules last month aimed at preventing coronavirus infections.