OREANDA-NEWS. The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, said that the organization, deciding to postpone the 2020 Games, doubted whether Japan would be able to invite athletes from around the world. “We were confident that Japan could hold the competition at the proper level, but doubted whether other countries were ready for the Olympics”, said Bach.

On the eve of the IOC announced the transfer of the Olympic Games in Tokyo to the summer of 2021. The governor of the Japanese capital, Yuriko Koike, said that the competition will retain the original name "Tokyo 2020". “Now we are confident that we can jointly put together a great puzzle and have a wonderful Olympic Games”, said the President of the IOC.

Previously, Canada, Australia and Norway refused to send their athletes to the Olympics in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The US Olympic Committee asked to postpone the Games.