TOKYO, Nov 17: IOC President Thomas Bach has said during this week�s trip to Tokyo that he is encouraging all Olympic participants and fans to be vaccinated � if one becomes available � if they are going to attend next year�s Tokyo Olympics. Bach says a reasonable number of fans should be able to attend the venues � vaccine or no vaccine. And he said confidently that the postponed Olympics will open on July 23.
�We want to convince as many foreign participants as possible to accept a vaccine,� he said repeatedly on Monday, his first of two days in Tokyo lining up support for the Games and holding news conferences. Japan has controlled the virus comparatively well, with about 1,900 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in a country of about 125 million. However, cases have been rising lately, particularly in Tokyo and the northern island of Hokkaido.
On Tuesday Bach was visiting the Athletes� Village alongside Tokyo Bay, and the new $1.4 National Stadium in central Tokyo. � AP
