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Olympic COVID measures still under discussion - Tokyo 2020 CEO

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

VIDEO SHOWS: JAPANESE GOVERNMENT AND TOKYO 2020 ORGANISING COMMITTEE HOLDING MEETING TO DISCUSS CORONAVIRUS COUNTER-MEASURES FOR TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS, TOKYO 2020 CHIEF EXECUTIVE TOSHIRO MUTO SPEAKING TO MEDIA

SHOWS:

TOKYO, JAPAN (SEPTEMBER 23, 2020) (FOREIGN POOL - ACCESS ALL)

1. TOKYO 2020 CHIEF EXECUTIVE, TOSHIRO MUTO, ARRIVING AT PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICIAL RESIDENCE

2. ATTENDEES SEATED DURING MEETING

3. MUTO WITH MASK ON

4. ATTENDEES SEATED

5. DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY, KAZUHIRO SUGITA SPEAKING

TOKYO, JAPAN (SEPTEMBER 23, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

6. MUTO AND OTHER STAFF ARRIVING AT NEWS BRIEFING

7. BRIEFING IN PROGRESS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO 2020 CHIEF EXECUTIVE, TOSHIRO MUTO, SAYING:

"We have discussed creating possible plans to allow athletes to participate in events such as competitions and practices during the 14-day waiting period after arrival in Japan."

9. BRIEFING IN PROGRESS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO 2020 CHIEF EXECUTIVE, TOSHIRO MUTO, SAYING:

"We will continue to discuss the detailed plans and prepare for the interim report by December. Therefore, no decisions have been made and I hope you could understand the situation."

11. JOURNALISTS SEATED

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO 2020 CHIEF EXECUTIVE, TOSHIRO MUTO, SAYING:

"We will continue to work closely with relevant departments and make our best efforts to prepare for the Olympics so that the Games will be held safely and securely with our people's understandings."

13. MUTO AND STAFF WALKING AWAY

STORY: The Tokyo 2020 CEO confirmed on Wednesday (September 23) that measures for next year's delayed Olympic Games, including the frequency of tests, are still under discussion.

"We will continue to discuss the detailed plans and prepare for the interim report by December. Therefore, no decisions have been made," said Muto, after a meeting between the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, the Japanese government and the Tokyo metropolitan authorities.

Muto also mentioned that possible plans were in discussion to allow athletes to participate in competitions and practices even during the 14-day waiting period after arrival in Japan, adding that he hoped deliberations with the IOC and various international sports federations would be finalized by December.

According to draft measures released on Wednesday, organisers of the Games will require coronavirus tests of foreign athletes upon their arrival in Japan, but may not mandate a two-week quarantine period.

Japanese athletes and other participants living in Japan would face similar requirements when travelling to training camps and competition venues under the planned measures, shown in the draft.

The pandemic, which has infected millions worldwide, has cast a shadow over the viability of next year's Games.

(Production: Akira Tomoshige, Irene Wang)