US President Joe Biden on Friday gave his backing to Japan's efforts to hold a "safe and secure" Olympic Games this year after talk of cancelation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, meeting Biden as the US president's first foreign guest, said his country was listening to experts and doing its "utmost" to prepare for the Tokyo Games.

"They are doing everything possible to contain infection and to realize safe and secure games from scientific and objective perspectives," Suga told a joint news conference.

"I expressed my determination to realize the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games as a symbol of global unity this summer, and President Biden once again expressed his support," the prime minister added.

A joint statement afterward said that Biden "supports Prime Minister Suga's efforts to hold a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer."&nbsp;

"Both leaders expressed their pride in the US and Japanese athletes who have trained for these Games and will be competing in the best traditions of the Olympic spirit," the statement said.

The Tokyo Games are due to open in July, with only Japanese spectators in the stands, after already being postponed by a year due to the pandemic.

Uncertainty about their viability has grown amid rising virus cases.

Organizers said Friday that they scrapped another leg of Japan's Olympic torch relay -- the third leg to be affected by a surge in infections -- and that a BMX Freestyle test event scheduled for April 24 and 25 would now be postponed.

A top official from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Toshihiro Nikai, caused a stir on Thursday by saying that Japan may need to cancel the Olympics, which have become increasingly unpopular among the Japanese public.

"If infections spread because of the Olympics, I don't know what the Olympics is for," said Nikai, the party's second-most powerful figure.

US President Joe Biden on Friday gave his backing to Japan's efforts to hold a "safe and secure" Olympic Games this year after talk of cancelation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

US President Joe Biden on Friday gave his backing to Japan's efforts to hold a "safe and secure" Olympic Games this year after talk of cancelation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, meeting Biden as the US president's first foreign guest, said his country was listening to experts and doing its "utmost" to prepare for the Tokyo Games. "They are doing everything possible to contain infection and to realize safe and secure games from scientific and objective perspectives," Suga told a joint news conference. "I expressed my determination to realize the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games as a symbol of global unity this summer, and President Biden once again expressed his support," the prime minister added. A joint statement afterward said that Biden "supports Prime Minister Suga's efforts to hold a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer." "Both leaders expressed their pride in the US and Japanese athletes who have trained for these Games and will be competing in the best traditions of the Olympic spirit," the statement said. The Tokyo Games are due to open in July, with only Japanese spectators in the stands, after already being postponed by a year due to the pandemic. Uncertainty about their viability has grown amid rising virus cases. Organizers said Friday that they scrapped another leg of Japan's Olympic torch relay -- the third leg to be affected by a surge in infections -- and that a BMX Freestyle test event scheduled for April 24 and 25 would now be postponed. A top official from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Toshihiro Nikai, caused a stir on Thursday by saying that Japan may need to cancel the Olympics, which have become increasingly unpopular among the Japanese public. "If infections spread because of the Olympics, I don't know what the Olympics is for," said Nikai, the party's second-most powerful figure.

Biden backs Japan PM on holding 'safe and secure' Olympic Games

The US President Joe Biden has said that any decision on holding&nbsp;the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed by a year due to COVID-19 pandemic, must be "based on science". The Games are set to commence in under six months with the Japanese government and International Olympic Committee (IOC)&nbsp;emphasising&nbsp;on holding the quadrennial event as planned, albeit under strict protocols that could include events being held behind closed doors.&nbsp;

Biden, speaking on a Westwood One Sports radio&nbsp;programme&nbsp;broadcast on Sunday, said that he hopes the Tokyo Olympics take place just for the sake of the athletes who have given their blood and sweat for the&nbsp;Games.&nbsp;

"I've spoken with the prime minister of Japan, he's working very hard to be in a position to safely open the Games, to have the Games, and I think that has to be based on science, whether or not it is safe for that to occur," Biden said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Biden, who took the office in January, said it pains him to even think that athletes won't be able to compete in the Tokyo Olympics after four years of hard work but added if the Games are to go ahead, it has to be based on science.&nbsp;

"Imagine all those Olympians who work for four years, four years for one shot and all of a sudden that opportunity gets lost," he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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"They are the people that I feel such pain for - but we have to do it based on the science," he&nbsp;further said while adding, "We are a science-driven administration, I think the rest of the&nbsp;world's&nbsp;there too. I hope we can&nbsp;play,&nbsp;I hope it's possible, but it remains to be seen."&nbsp;&nbsp;

The&nbsp;2020 Tokyo&nbsp;Olympics are set to open on July 23 and run until Aug. 8.&nbsp;

The US President Joe Biden has said that any decision on holding the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed by a year due to COVID-19 pandemic, must be "based on science".

The US President Joe Biden has said that any decision on holding the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed by a year due to COVID-19 pandemic, must be "based on science". The Games are set to commence in under six months with the Japanese government and International Olympic Committee (IOC) emphasising on holding the quadrennial event as planned, albeit under strict protocols that could include events being held behind closed doors. Biden, speaking on a Westwood One Sports radio programme broadcast on Sunday, said that he hopes the Tokyo Olympics take place just for the sake of the athletes who have given their blood and sweat for the Games. "I've spoken with the prime minister of Japan, he's working very hard to be in a position to safely open the Games, to have the Games, and I think that has to be based on science, whether or not it is safe for that to occur," Biden said. ALSO READ: Tampa Bay Buccaneers win Super Bowl 2021: Here's the complete list of winners Biden, who took the office in January, said it pains him to even think that athletes won't be able to compete in the Tokyo Olympics after four years of hard work but added if the Games are to go ahead, it has to be based on science. "Imagine all those Olympians who work for four years, four years for one shot and all of a sudden that opportunity gets lost," he said. ALSO READ: Brady's magnificent seven as Bucs upset Chiefs in Super Bowl "They are the people that I feel such pain for - but we have to do it based on the science," he further said while adding, "We are a science-driven administration, I think the rest of the world's there too. I hope we can play, I hope it's possible, but it remains to be seen." The 2020 Tokyo Olympics are set to open on July 23 and run until Aug. 8.

'It remains to be seen...': US President Joe Biden opines on 2020 Tokyo Olympics

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Biden backs Japan PM on holding 'safe and secure' Olympic Games

'It remains to be seen...': US President Joe Biden opines on 2020 Tokyo Olympics