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NorwayJoinsNations to Request Rescheduling of Tokyo Olympics

VOA News

   The vice president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics organizing committee,
   Toshiaki Endo, said Saturday the committee is not in the position to
   decide whether to postpone or cancel the event.

   "The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the one making the final
   decision. We will firmly continue our efforts to host the event in
   July," Endo told Kyodo news.

   Endo's statement came after Norway's Olympic committee requested that
   Tokyo 2020 Olympics be postponed until the coronavirus spread is
   contained.

   Norway's call followed similar moves from Colombia and Slovenia on
   Friday.

   The U.S. governing body of competitive swimming has also called for the
   Tokyo Summer Olympics to be postponed for one year.

   Athletes and sport officials from around the world have urged the
   International Olympic Committee, the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee
   and the Japanese governmentto postpone the Games.

   The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are scheduled to run from July 24 to August'¯9,
   followed by the Paralympics from August 25 to September 6.

   Meanwhile, despite the concerns over the coronavirus spread, hundreds
   of spectators attended the Olympic torch event as the flame arrived
   from Greece on Friday at Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Matsushima base
   in northern Japan.'¯

   The'¯traditional'¯relay, scheduled to start'¯in Fukushima on March 26,
   will'¯pass many'¯famous'¯Japanese'¯landmarks,'¯including Mount Fuji,
   Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park and Kumamoto Castle, before
   entering'¯the Olympic stadium July 24.

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