Jun 12 ,2020. 2 hours ago – 10:27 KYODO NEWS

The International Olympic Committee on Thursday reaffirmed its plan to hold the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympics next summer, dismissing talk of a possible cancellation as “pure speculation.”

In an interview with BBC Sport last month, however, IOC President Thomas Bach acknowledged that the games would likely be canceled if not held next year.

“The IOC together with its partners and friends in Japan is fully committed to celebrate the Games of the XXXII Olympiad from 23 July until 8 August 2021 in Tokyo,” an IOC spokesperson said.

“The joint task force is 100 percent focused on this goal, everything else is pure speculation.”

The IOC said that due to its excellent partnership with the host nation, it is ready “to discuss any delivery option” in future with the Japanese government, the Tokyo metropolitan government or the games organizing committee.

CR: KYODO NEWS