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On March 24, 2020, the Prime Minister held a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence.
 
With regard to the telephone talk with H.E. Mr. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Prime Minister said,
 
“Just now, I held a telephone conference with Mr. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with Mr. MORI Yoshiro, President of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, Ms. KOIKE Yuriko, Governor of Tokyo, and Ms. HASHIMOTO Seiko, Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games also present. First of all, I confirmed with President Bach once again that the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will not be cancelled. Then on that basis, in light of the current situation, in order to have the world’s athletes compete in their very best condition and to create a safe event in which the spectators can have peace of mind, I asked, as the host nation Japan, that the IOC consider an option centered around delaying the Games for roughly a year. President Bach replied that he fully supports my proposal, and we agreed that the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games would be held no later than the summer of 2021. We concurred that going forward, Japan will work in close cooperation with IOC President Bach in order to hold the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in a complete form, as proof that humankind has defeated the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Japan intends to fully carry out its responsibility as the host nation.”
 
In addition, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Firstly, looking at the current situation of the spread of the disease, we proposed an option of roughly one year as it would be difficult to hold the Games this year. On that basis, we have agreed that the Games would be held no later than the summer of 2021. Moving forward, based on this target, we will make thorough adjustments with regard to relevant measures such as Games venues. A meeting of the IOC Executive Board will be convened after this.”