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With tensions on the Korean peninsula growing
in the wake of a series of missile tests and a recent nuclear
test by North Korea, the French government last week became the
first to publicly raise the possibility of skipping the Feb.
9-25 Pyeongchang Olympics on safety grounds.
Tsunekazu Takeda, president of the JOC, said in a statement on
Tuesday that Japanese athletes and officials were gearing up to
take part in the Games.
"The Japanese Olympic Committee is looking forward to
participate in the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018 and
will be in Pyeongchang together with the athletes and the
Japanese delegation whom have been training and preparing for
the past four years," said Takeda.
He added that he had been closely involved in the Pyeongchang
Organizing Committee's (POCOG) preparations for the Olympics and
Paralympics.
"I know that POCOG will ensure to provide a safe Games for the
entire Olympic Family."
The IOC has said it was confident about the Games and not
considering any other scenarios.
On Monday, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) said not
one of its athletes had expressed fears about the safety of the
Games.
"We understand individual athletes may have questions and
concerns but our job as the national Olympic committee for the
United States is to make sure the athletes have an opportunity
to go and are well supported by us while they are there," said
USOC CEO Scott Blackmun.
"These Games are really no different than any other Games in
terms of our preparations, we are working closely with the State
Department and law enforcement."
(Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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