President Biden says decision on Tokyo Olympics will be 'based on science'
Rumors continue to circulate about the status of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games that were postponed to this coming summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Olympics remain set to occur from July 23 through Aug. 8 as of Monday, and President Joe Biden is hopeful they will take place as long as all involved follow health and safety guidelines.
"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," President Biden told Jim Gray during halftime of the Westwood One Super Bowl LV broadcast, per Reuters.
Biden added:
"Imagine all those Olympians who work for four years, four years for one shot and all of a sudden that opportunity gets lost. They are the people that I feel such pain for - but we have to do it based on the science. 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."
On Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Biden will invite the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a Super Bowl celebration but only when it's coronavirus-safe. Psaki did not reveal a potential date for that gathering:
The International Olympic Committee is considering holding the Games without spectators, but no final decision has been made. It's likely all athletes and coaches would have to quarantine in Japan before competitions begin.
Tennis players and coaches had to observe 14-day quarantines in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open.
More must-reads: