Audio By Carbonatix
The United States track and field team have cancelled their pre-Olympic training camp in Japan because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
Host city Tokyo is under a state of emergency amid a surge in cases, 10 weeks from the start of the Games on 23 July.
American athletes were due to train in nearby Chiba and the local government said "concerns for their athletes' safety" led to the cancellation.
The US team are yet to comment.
The news comes a day after Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka said she was "not really sure" whether the rescheduled Olympics should go ahead this summer.
A recent poll found that nearly 60% of people in Japan want the Games to be cancelled
, a fact that may have been exacerbated by the country's wish to offer donated vaccines to about 2,500 Olympic and Paralympic athletes and support staff to prevent an outbreak during the event.
In Japan, 2.6% of the population has been vaccinated and reports that athletes would be prioritised led to criticism from the public.
"Our officials are saying we'll make sure we don't cause trouble for the overall population," said Miho Kuroda of the Japan Paralympic Committee.
One sponsor has also responded to rising public concern in Japan, with a Toyota Motor Corp executive saying company officials felt "conflicted" over the Games.
"As sponsors, it breaks our heart to see public discontent aimed at athletes," Toyota's operating officer Jun Nagata said on Wednesday.
Latest Stories
-
World Cup 2026: Tuchel keeps group stage opponents under wraps, shuns Ghana
7 minutes -
Volta Region received a significant share of Big Push road projects – Mahama
12 minutes -
Togbe Afede XIV lauds government’s $10bn ‘big push’ programme for boosting farm produce transport
1 hour -
FDA urges consumers to prioritise safety when purchasing products during festive season
1 hour -
President Mahama calls for single-digit interest rates on agricultural loans
2 hours -
President Mahama urges Ghanaians in formal jobs to take up farming
2 hours -
Farming interventions paying off, lifting incomes and food security, says Agric minister
2 hours -
Gov’t pledges science-backed interventions in agriculture, says Agric minister
2 hours -
Ghana unveils $3.4bn plan to accelerate national clean energy transition
2 hours -
Interior minister urges security agencies to maximise use of new NSB regional command in Ho
2 hours -
Photos: Ghana celebrates 41st National Farmers’ Day
2 hours -
2025 Farmer’s Day: Farmers demand a 2% interest rate on loans to boost farming activities
2 hours -
Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana calls for strong public-private partnerships to unlock finance and transform the sector
3 hours -
Lions celebrate International Volunteer Day with over decades of service and impact
3 hours -
3 dead, dozens injured in Mampong Abuontem head-on collision
3 hours
