Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), strongly supports the Tokyo Olympics postponed by the pandemic, despite the surge in Delta variants leading to a global comeback of COVID-19, and the problems facing the event are still Continue to oppose just a few days before the opening ceremony.

Ghebreyesus addressed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Tokyo, acknowledging the scale of the problems caused by the pandemic, but equating the Olympic spirit with the need for governments and people around the world to work together to defeat the virus.

The head of the WHO said on Wednesday: “May these Olympics be a moment to unite the world, ignite the unity and determination we need to end the pandemic together, and vaccinate 70% of the population of each country by the middle of next year.”

“May the Olympic torch become a symbol of hope across the earth. May the light of hope in this sunrise area illuminate a new dawn for a healthier, safer, and fairer world.”

Tokyo Olympics forced to enter Unprecedented delay After the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March last year.The organizers have worked with WHO to launch a series of measures to reduce risk COVID-19 and ensure that the Olympics remain safe.

but Increasing cases around the world In Japan, this has weakened public confidence and increased opposition to upcoming events.

Tokyo recorded 1,387 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases since the beginning of the pandemic to more than 840,000. Approximately 15,055 people in Japan have died of this disease, and more than 4.1 million people worldwide have died of this disease.

Dozens of cases have been linked to the Olympics, including some athletes, which has further weakened public trust in efforts to mitigate the coronavirus.

“The epidemic is a test. The world is failing,” Ghebreyesus said at the IOC meeting.

“More than four million people have died, and many more continue to die. This year, the number of deaths is more than double the total last year. In the time I make these remarks, more than 100 people will die from COVID-19. By the time the Olympic flame goes out on August 8, more than 100,000 people will be killed.”

“Tired” of the virus

He pointed out that people all over the world are “tired” of the virus and hope that the pandemic will end, but he said that this cannot happen unless more people in more countries are vaccinated.

“The threat will not end anywhere until it ends anywhere,” he said. “Anyone who thinks that the pandemic is over because where they live is over is living in a fool’s paradise.”

The first game-the softball game between Japan and Australia-was held on Wednesday in an empty stadium.Due to COVID-19, most events will be played without spectators [Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Network via Reuters]

Speaking of richer countries, the head of the WHO said that the world did not make full use of the vaccines that had been developed, and only 75% of the injections were carried out in 10 countries. He said that in low-income countries, only 1% of people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while more than half of people in high-income countries have received this dose.

He said that the vaccine was “concentrated in the hands of the lucky few,” adding that the failure to share vaccines, tests, and treatments is exacerbating the dual-track pandemic, which is not only “moral anger”, but may also exacerbate the risks that arise. . A new and perhaps more deadly variant of the coronavirus.

“The tragedy of this pandemic is that if the vaccine were distributed more equitably, it could have been controlled now,” he said, adding that pharmaceutical companies should put profits and patents second to ensure Wider access to vaccines.

WHO, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization are supporting the global push. By September, at least 10% of the population in each country will be vaccinated, at least 40% by the end of this year, and at least 70% by the end of this year . Mid-2022.

Ghebreyesus also reiterated the importance of public health measures beyond vaccines—including testing, contact tracing, and isolation—to control the spread of the virus.

Many measures form part of the rules in the Olympic manual, which are designed to help ensure the safety of athletes, officials and the media while in Japan and minimize the risk of contracting the coronavirus. Most events will be held in open venues.

The person in charge of the WHO stated that the “sign of success” is not zero cases, but cases being identified, quarantined, tracked and taken care of.

According to official data, about 79 cases related to the event have been reported so far, and the opening ceremony is scheduled to be held on Friday.

“In the 125-year history of the modern Olympics, they have been under the shadow of wars, economic crises and geopolitical turmoil. But they have never been organized under the shadow of a pandemic before,” he said. “Although COVID-19 may have delayed the game, it did not beat them.”