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Amid speculation the event might be cancelled
again due to the coronavirus pandemic, International Olympic
Committee President Thomas Bach said on Wednesday the IOC was
fully committed to it going ahead.
Suga told a virtual meeting of the World Economic Forum that
Japan was "determined to deliver hope and courage to the world"
through the Games, and he would continue to collaborate closely
with Bach to realise a "safe and secure" event.
"Preparation is progressing solidly," Suga added.
Bach on Wednesday described any speculation about the Games'
postponement or cancellation as unhelpful.
Japan has been hit by a third COVID wave that has triggered
states of emergency in some areas.
The government is not planning to start rolling out its vaccine
programme until late February, casting doubts over whether a
significant proportion of the population will have been
inoculated in time for the Games.
Suga also said Japan would expand its support providing
coronavirus vaccines for developing countries from an initial
$130 million.
He stressed the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance and said
Japan would endeavour to establish a "stable relationship" with
neighbours including Russia and China.
Suga became premier in September after his predecessor fell ill.
(Reporting by Ju-min Park and Mari Saito; ; editing by John
Stonestreet)
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