It has been postponed since last year and spent 3.5 billion US dollars in additional expenses. A reduced version of the Olympic Games without foreign audiences will begin on July 23.

But with the slow introduction of vaccines, Tokyo and nine other regions in a state of emergency, and the number of severe coronavirus cases continues to increase, most Japanese are opposed to hosting the Olympics.

According to local media reports, residents of a training venue in Daejeon are angry at the decision to provide visiting Australian softball players with priority vaccination, which illustrates public anxiety.

However, the chairman of the organizing committee, Seiko Hashimoto, refuted this pessimism, telling the daily sports newspaper: “We can’t postpone it anymore.”

‘Bubble situation’

Hashimoto, who has participated in the seven summer and winter Olympics as a cyclist and skater, told the BBC that although the Japanese’s concerns are understandable, they should rest assured that the “bubble situation” is being carefully constructed.

She said: “I believe that the probability of these Olympics is 100%, and we will do it.” “One thing the organizing committee promises and promises to all athletes is that we will defend and protect their health.”

The country’s most senior medical adviser said on Thursday that public health guidance, including him, had not been delivered to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) responsible for the event.

“We are now considering where we should make our recommendations,” Shigeru Omi told lawmakers. “If they want to hold [the Games], And tell them what the risk is is our job. “

Although Tokyo is full of Olympic advertisements, it is far from the usual glitz and hustle, and many sponsors are not sure how to conduct the event. The public broadcaster NHK said this week that thousands of volunteers have also withdrawn.

Hashimoto admitted that there was no grief from outside audiences in an event that is usually a large global party.

“This is their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity [athletes] Can participate in the Olympics,” she said in an interview with the BBC.

“Can’t have family and friends who have always supported them. This must be a very painful thing, and it also makes me very painful.”

-From Reuters, last updated at 7 am Eastern Time

What’s happening in canada

As of early Thursday morning, Canada had reported 1,385,279 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 29,277 were considered active. The death toll on CBC News is 25,612. To date, more than 24.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been vaccinated across the country. CBC’s vaccine tracker.

On Wednesday in Atlantic Canada, health officials from both countries Newfoundland and Labrador with Nova Scotia 17 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported. Nova Scotia, which reopened this week, also reported two other deaths.

New Brunswick Report 12 new COVID-19 cases And there are no new case reports Prince Edward Island.

Quebec Five other deaths were reported on Wednesday and 288 new cases COVID-19.

in OntarioOn Wednesday, health officials reported 733 new COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths.The update comes after Governor Doug Ford announced that students across the province will Don’t go back to the classroom This school year.

“Although no one wants the children to go back to school more than I do, as your prime minister, these are not risks I am willing to take,” Ford said because of the decisions of the New Democratic Party leader Andrea Horwath and groups including the government Quickly criticize the Child Health Alliance, which includes major child health organizations including the Hospital for Sick Children.

“Children and youth are not a priority in Ontario’s pandemic response,” Statement of the Health Alliance Say. “For their future, for the future of our province, children must be the top priority for pandemic recovery.”

In the prairie provinces, Manitoba 267 new COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths were reported.

Manitoba health officials said that as the number of people vaccinated for the first time begins to stabilize, they will increase their vaccination efforts. They said that vans will be used as mobile clinics in some areas, while community clinics will be set up in areas where vaccines are hesitant. In some rural areas south of Winnipeg, vaccination rates are less than half of the provincial average.

Saskatchewan, While reporting 130 new COVID-19 cases And one other person died on Wednesday.

in Alberta, Health officials report 410 new COVID-19 cases And four other people died.

In the entire north, no new cases have been reported Yukon Territory, This North-west region or Nunavut.

in British Columbia, Health officials report Less than 200 cases COVID-19 occurred for the second day in a row.

-From CBC News and Canadian media, the last update time is 7:05 AM EST

What is happening around the world

As of early Thursday morning, the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 case tracking tool showed that more than 171.7 million cases have been reported worldwide. According to the database, the number of deaths reported worldwide exceeds 3.6 million.

inside America, The Pan American Health Organization stated that the lack of effective political leadership has hindered efforts to stop the pandemic in Latin America, and the infection rate in Latin America has once again risen dangerously.

When Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro addressed the country, fierce protests broke out in several Brazilian cities, just a few days after the protesters took to the streets because of his handling of the pandemic Rear.

From free beer to free childcare services, President Joe Biden touted a new effort to vaccinate 70% of American adults with at least one shot of COVID-19 before the July 4 Independence Day holiday.

in Africa, The Prime Minister of Egypt stated that Egypt’s goal is to vaccinate 40% of its population against the coronavirus by the end of 2021.

in Europe, European Union governments have agreed to add Japan to a small group of countries, allow non-essential travel, and postpone British tourists at least until mid-June.

inside Asia Pacific On Thursday, Australia’s second most populous state reported its lowest increase in new cases in more than a week, the day after Melbourne’s rapid lockdown was extended for another week.

inside middle EastAccording to the National News Kuna, Kuwait has approved GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology’s Sotrovimab for the treatment of coronavirus.

-From Reuters and The Associated Press, last updated at 7 am EST