A Japanese online petition calling for the cancellation of this summer's Tokyo Olympics had received over 200,000 signatures at a record pace as of Friday, just two days after its launch, as public fears over the coronavirus pandemic grow with the rapid spread of highly contagious variants.

The petition, which is addressed to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and other representatives of the organizers, says the games should not be held in order to protect people's lives amid the global health crisis.

A spectator raises a paper sign reading "It is impossible to hold the Olympics, face up to reality" during a half-marathon race being held at the venue of the Tokyo Olympics marathon as a test event in the northern Japan city of Sapporo on May 5, 2021, amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

"With the circumstances that we are under, it is certainly unlikely that the Tokyo Olympics could be held safely," said the English version of the Change.org petition started Wednesday noon by lawyer Kenji Utsunomiya, who has run multiple times for the Tokyo governorship.

"The lack of medical resources that Tokyo and the rest of Japan is suffering from should suggest just how much the games will cause danger and fear to health care workers, citizens, and participants," it said.

According to Change.org, the anti-Olympic petition has garnered support at a faster pace than any other since the Japanese version of the platform was launched in 2012.

With less than three months until the opening of the Olympics, Tokyo has been under a third COVID-19 state of emergency since late April, and the measure was extended Friday beyond its end date on Tuesday to May 31 in an attempt to curb infections and ease the strain on hospitals.

Utsunomiya said on Twitter that he planned to compile all the signatures before Bach's scheduled visit to Japan for an Olympic torch relay event on May 17 and meeting with Suga the next day.

But he is expected to continue the petition until the Olympics are called off, Change.org said in a press release.

At a press conference on Friday, Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Japanese organizing committee, said Bach's trip to the host country is "very difficult" under present circumstances.

"I think it is very important to have President Bach look at the current situation. However, the state of emergency being extended will likely cause a huge burden on him to visit during that period," she said.

Bach and the Japanese organizing committee have both said it is possible to hold the Olympics and Paralympics safely. But media polls have constantly shown that a large majority of people in Japan oppose holding the games this summer following a one-year postponement.

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and Sebastian Coe, World Athletics president, held a meeting in the Japanese capital, during which they reaffirmed their cooperation in the run-up to the Olympics.

While voicing understanding for people in Japan who are worried about the major sporting event, Coe said he will continue working with the host city so the games can deliver hope during this difficult time.

Coe, who led the organizing body of the 2012 London Olympics, watched a test event for the marathon Wednesday in Sapporo. At the time, Coe said his visit was intended to show his organization's support for the Tokyo Games.

He also held talks with Hashimoto and Olympic minister Tamayo Marukawa on Friday afternoon.

On Thursday, the IOC said it will provide athletes attending the Olympics and Paralympics with free doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE.

Meanwhile, Japan's vaccine rollout, which has been criticized as too slow, only began for those aged 65 and over last month, and it will be impossible for much of the general public to be inoculated by the start of the Olympics on July 23.

The Olympics and Paralympics are expected to involve about 15,000 athletes, who will, in principle, be tested for COVID-19 on a daily basis during the games, and be required to follow a set of rules aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike (R) and World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (L), both wearing face masks to protect against the novel coronavirus, hold talks at the metropolitan government building on May 7, 2021, to discuss this summer's Tokyo Olympics. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Coe, who led the organizing body of the 2012 London Olympics, watched a marathon test event in Sapporo on Wednesday. At the time, Coe said his visit was intended to show his organization's support for the Tokyo Games.

On Thursday, the IOC said it will provide athletes attending the Olympics and Paralympics with free doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE.

Meanwhile, Japan's vaccine rollout, which has been criticized as too slow, only began for those aged 65 and over last month, and it will be impossible for much of the general public to be inoculated by the start of the Olympics on July 23.

The Olympics and Paralympics are expected to involve about 15,000 athletes.


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