According to the Associated Press Tokyo on July 13, since arriving in Tokyo last week, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach made his first public appearance on the 13th local time, and there are currently only 10 days left before the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games postponed due to the new crown epidemic.
Bach was previously quarantined for 3 days at a five-star hotel in central Tokyo. In the first 14 days after arriving in Tokyo, Bach's activities in Tokyo were restricted like almost all Olympic participants.
According to the report, the first stop of Bach's itinerary on the 13th was to go to the headquarters of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee to make a mobilization speech. Due to the pandemic, almost all events at the Tokyo Olympics will be held "empty spaces".
In his opening remarks to Tokyo Organising Committee President Seiko Hashimoto and CEO Toshiro Muto, Bach said: "You have worked hard to make Tokyo the best city ever in olympic preparations. This is all the more commendable in a situation where we all have to face difficulties. ”
Bach made a mistake in his speech to his Japanese host, saying "Chinese people" when he was supposed to say "Japanese people.". "Our common goal is to ensure the safety of everyone in the competition, the safety of all athletes, delegations and, most importantly, the Chinese people — the People of Japan," Bach said. Bach quickly discovered his own mistake.
The report noted that many Japanese media outlets quickly reported the incident and sparked a strong reaction on social media.
According to the report, Bach plans to visit Hiroshima on the 16th to link the Olympic Games with the city's work to promote world peace. Japan's Kyodo News Agency has reported that a group in Hiroshima opposes Bach's visit to the city.
According to reports, on the 10th, a small group of protesters gathered outside Bach's hotel and held up a placard saying that Bach was not welcome in Tokyo. Polls show that many respondents oppose hosting the Olympics during the pandemic, and Bach and the IOC have been criticized for moving forward with hosting the Games during the pandemic.
Source: Reference News Network