Tokyo Olympics chief on Friday said that Japan was committed to holding the Summer Olympics this year despite a surge in coronavirus cases which has resulted in fresh calls for the Games to again be postponed or cancelled.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/are-the-olympics-being-cancelled-it-remains-an-option-says-japanese-official-377711" hreflang="en">Will Olympics be cancelled? It remains an option, says Japan official</a>

"We're not thinking of cancelling the Olympics," Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto said, speaking on behalf of the organising committee.

"We will continue to do what we can to implement a thorough safety regimen that will make people feel complete safety."

The Japanese government will be expanding quasi-emergency measures to 10 regions due to the fourth wave of coronavirus, which has raised doubts regarding hosting the Games.&nbsp;

Earlier, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters the government was considering adding Aichi, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba to six other prefectures already under contagion controls, including the cities of Tokyo and Osaka.

The final call is expected to be taken on Friday afternoon. According to the country's health experts, the COVID-19 pandemic has entered a fourth wave.

On Thursday, a senior from the ruling party said that cancelling this year's Olympics remains an option if the coronavirus situation if the virus outbreak worsens.&nbsp;

Japan has exhibited "poor performance" in containing virus transmission, along with limited testing capacity and a slow vaccination rollout, according to a commentary of health experts published in the British Medical Journal on Wednesday.

"Plans to hold the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer must be reconsidered as a matter of urgency," wrote lead author Kazuki Shimizu of the London School of Economics.

"Holding Tokyo 2020 for domestic political and economic purposes--ignoring scientific and moral imperatives--is contradictory to Japan's commitment to global health and human security."

(With inputs from agencies)

Tokyo Olympics chief on Friday said that Japan was committed to holding the Summer Olympics this year despite a surge in coronavirus cases which has resulted in fresh calls for the Games to again be postponed or cancelled.

Tokyo Olympics chief on Friday said that Japan was committed to holding the Summer Olympics this year despite a surge in coronavirus cases which has resulted in fresh calls for the Games to again be postponed or cancelled. ALSO READ: Will Olympics be cancelled? It remains an option, says Japan official "We're not thinking of cancelling the Olympics," Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto said, speaking on behalf of the organising committee. "We will continue to do what we can to implement a thorough safety regimen that will make people feel complete safety." The Japanese government will be expanding quasi-emergency measures to 10 regions due to the fourth wave of coronavirus, which has raised doubts regarding hosting the Games. Earlier, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters the government was considering adding Aichi, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba to six other prefectures already under contagion controls, including the cities of Tokyo and Osaka. The final call is expected to be taken on Friday afternoon. According to the country's health experts, the COVID-19 pandemic has entered a fourth wave. On Thursday, a senior from the ruling party said that cancelling this year's Olympics remains an option if the coronavirus situation if the virus outbreak worsens. Japan has exhibited "poor performance" in containing virus transmission, along with limited testing capacity and a slow vaccination rollout, according to a commentary of health experts published in the British Medical Journal on Wednesday. "Plans to hold the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer must be reconsidered as a matter of urgency," wrote lead author Kazuki Shimizu of the London School of Economics. "Holding Tokyo 2020 for domestic political and economic purposes--ignoring scientific and moral imperatives--is contradictory to Japan's commitment to global health and human security." (With inputs from agencies)

Not thinking of cancelling the Olympics', says Tokyo 2020 chief amid surge in COVID infections

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organising Committee is leaning towards barring foreign volunteers from helping at the delayed Games this summer, amid public concerns over the coronavirus, Kyodo news service reported on Saturday.

The organising committee may consider allowing the entry of volunteers with specialised skills such as speaking minority languages as an exception, the report also said.

The report came hours ahead of a meeting of Tokyo Olympics organisers who will reportedly discuss whether to allow international spectators.

Media polls show that a majority of the Japanese public are wary about letting in international spectators to watch the Games as the country grapples with the tail-end of a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

The office of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organising Committee could not be reached for comment.

Tokyo Olympics organisers, including the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, International Olympic Committee, and the central government of Japan will meet from 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) on Saturday.

Sources told Reuters earlier this month that the Japanese government has concluded it will not be able to allow spectators from abroad.

But Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee President Seiko Hashimoto has held off on confirming a decision, saying that she hoped to reach a decision before the start of the torch relay set to start in Fukushima next Thursday.

The Olympic Games, which was delayed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, is now scheduled for July 23 to Aug. 8, and the Paralympics from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organising Committee is leaning towards barring foreign volunteers from helping at the delayed Games this summer, amid public concerns over the coronavirus, Kyodo news service reported on Saturday.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organising Committee is leaning towards barring foreign volunteers from helping at the delayed Games this summer, amid public concerns over the coronavirus, Kyodo news service reported on Saturday. The organising committee may consider allowing the entry of volunteers with specialised skills such as speaking minority languages as an exception, the report also said. The report came hours ahead of a meeting of Tokyo Olympics organisers who will reportedly discuss whether to allow international spectators. Media polls show that a majority of the Japanese public are wary about letting in international spectators to watch the Games as the country grapples with the tail-end of a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The office of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organising Committee could not be reached for comment. Tokyo Olympics organisers, including the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, International Olympic Committee, and the central government of Japan will meet from 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) on Saturday. Sources told Reuters earlier this month that the Japanese government has concluded it will not be able to allow spectators from abroad. But Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee President Seiko Hashimoto has held off on confirming a decision, saying that she hoped to reach a decision before the start of the torch relay set to start in Fukushima next Thursday. The Olympic Games, which was delayed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, is now scheduled for July 23 to Aug. 8, and the Paralympics from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5.

Tokyo 2020 likely won't allow foreign Olympic volunteers: Kyodo

Tokyo 2020 Games chief Yoshiro Mori has apologised and said he may have to resign after sparking a sexism row by claiming women speak too much in meetings, a Japanese daily said Thursday.

Mori, an 83-year-old former prime minister known for public gaffes, told the Mainichi Shimbun he was sorry for his "thoughtless" remarks, which prompted calls for him to step down.

"If calls for my resignation grow louder, I might be compelled to resign," Mori was quoted as telling the newspaper on Thursday.

"It was thoughtless. I'd like to apologise," he added.

Mori is reported to have said Wednesday that "board of directors meetings with many women take a lot of time", according to the Asahi Shimbun daily.

"When you increase the number of female executive members, if their speaking time isn't restricted to a certain extent, they have difficulty finishing, which is annoying," he reportedly said.

The comments sparked a furious reaction in Japan, with the phrases "enough already," "misogyny" and "we demand Yoshiro Mori resigns" all trending on Twitter.

Mori said he had been taken to task by the female members of his family as a result, with his wife giving him a "thorough scolding."&nbsp;

"She said: 'You've said something bad again, haven't you? I'm going to have to suffer again because you've antagonised women.' This morning, my daughter and granddaughter scolded me as well," he said.

"I was trying to say that I wonder about the general opinion that we should just increase the number of women," he added. "I wasn't trying to slight women at all."

He made the remarks to members of the Japan Olympic Committee, some of whom were reported to have laughed in response.

The JOC decided last year to aim to have 40 percent female board members, but as of November, there are just five women among the board's 24 members.

<h2>- 'Understands their place' -</h2>

"We have about seven women at the organising committee but everyone understands their place," Mori is reported to have said at the Wednesday meeting.

Tokyo 2020 has not responded to a request for comment on Mori's remarks, but has called a press conference for later Thursday that is expected to address the row.

Nippon TV reported that Mori would "firmly respond" to reports on his remarks, but that he was not currently planning to resign.

A government spokesman declined to be drawn on calls for his resignation, but JOC member and former judoka Kaori Yamaguchi called Mori's comments "unfortunate".

"Gender equality and considerations for people with disabilities were supposed to be prerequisite for holding the Tokyo Games," the Sports Hochi newspaper quoted her as saying.

"It is unfortunate that the representative of the organising committee would make such a remark."

While ranking highly on a range of international indicators, Japan persistently trails on promoting gender equality, ranking 121 out of 153 nations surveyed in the 2020 global gender gap report of the World Economic Forum.

Mori has a history of making controversial remarks, and made waves earlier this week by insisting the pandemic-posted Games would go ahead this summer "however the coronavirus (pandemic) evolves".

The comments came with polls showing around 80 percent of Japanese oppose holding the Games this year, and as several parts of Japan are under a virus state of emergency.

On Thursday, a popular Japanese comedian described those remarks as "incomprehensible" and said he would no longer take part in the Olympic torch relay, domestic media reported.

Tokyo 2020 Games chief Yoshiro Mori has apologised and said he may have to resign after sparking a sexism row by claiming women speak too much in meetings, a Japanese daily said Thursday.

Tokyo 2020 Games chief Yoshiro Mori has apologised and said he may have to resign after sparking a sexism row by claiming women speak too much in meetings, a Japanese daily said Thursday. Mori, an 83-year-old former prime minister known for public gaffes, told the Mainichi Shimbun he was sorry for his "thoughtless" remarks, which prompted calls for him to step down. "If calls for my resignation grow louder, I might be compelled to resign," Mori was quoted as telling the newspaper on Thursday. "It was thoughtless. I'd like to apologise," he added. Mori is reported to have said Wednesday that "board of directors meetings with many women take a lot of time", according to the Asahi Shimbun daily. "When you increase the number of female executive members, if their speaking time isn't restricted to a certain extent, they have difficulty finishing, which is annoying," he reportedly said. The comments sparked a furious reaction in Japan, with the phrases "enough already," "misogyny" and "we demand Yoshiro Mori resigns" all trending on Twitter. Mori said he had been taken to task by the female members of his family as a result, with his wife giving him a "thorough scolding." "She said: 'You've said something bad again, haven't you? I'm going to have to suffer again because you've antagonised women.' This morning, my daughter and granddaughter scolded me as well," he said. "I was trying to say that I wonder about the general opinion that we should just increase the number of women," he added. "I wasn't trying to slight women at all." He made the remarks to members of the Japan Olympic Committee, some of whom were reported to have laughed in response. The JOC decided last year to aim to have 40 percent female board members, but as of November, there are just five women among the board's 24 members. - 'Understands their place' - "We have about seven women at the organising committee but everyone understands their place," Mori is reported to have said at the Wednesday meeting. Tokyo 2020 has not responded to a request for comment on Mori's remarks, but has called a press conference for later Thursday that is expected to address the row. Nippon TV reported that Mori would "firmly respond" to reports on his remarks, but that he was not currently planning to resign. A government spokesman declined to be drawn on calls for his resignation, but JOC member and former judoka Kaori Yamaguchi called Mori's comments "unfortunate". "Gender equality and considerations for people with disabilities were supposed to be prerequisite for holding the Tokyo Games," the Sports Hochi newspaper quoted her as saying. "It is unfortunate that the representative of the organising committee would make such a remark." While ranking highly on a range of international indicators, Japan persistently trails on promoting gender equality, ranking 121 out of 153 nations surveyed in the 2020 global gender gap report of the World Economic Forum. Mori has a history of making controversial remarks, and made waves earlier this week by insisting the pandemic-posted Games would go ahead this summer "however the coronavirus (pandemic) evolves". The comments came with polls showing around 80 percent of Japanese oppose holding the Games this year, and as several parts of Japan are under a virus state of emergency. On Thursday, a popular Japanese comedian described those remarks as "incomprehensible" and said he would no longer take part in the Olympic torch relay, domestic media reported.

Tokyo 2020 boss faces resignation calls over sexist remarks

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Not thinking of cancelling the Olympics', says Tokyo 2020 chief amid surge in COVID infections

Tokyo 2020 likely won't allow foreign Olympic volunteers: Kyodo

Tokyo 2020 boss faces resignation calls over sexist remarks