Will Tokyo Olympics Be Canceled over Covid-19 Pandemic?

A top Japanese official denied a report Friday that government officials privately believe the upcoming Tokyo Olympics will have to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported.

On Thursday, the Times of London reported Japanese officials are now focusing their efforts on securing the next free timeslot for the Summer Games, in 2032. According to the report, there is private consensus that there is no way for the Olympics to be held this summer, and officials are seeking a way to save face and secure future hosting rights.

According to Reuters, Manabu Sakai, Japan's deputy chief cabinet secretary, told reporters Friday that the report was false.

The Games were already postponed by a year, and Olympic officials have said they will not be further delayed.

In a statement Friday, the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee did not address the report, but said it and its partners "are fully focused on hosting the games this summer," according to the Associated Press.

Canceling the Games would be a major blow to athletes, as well as to Comcast's CMCSA, +0.51% NBCUniversal and its fledgling streaming service, Peacock. In 2014, NBC paid more than $7 billion for the rights to broadcast the Olympics through 2032. The Olympics are historically among the highest-rated events on TV, and Peacock has been counting on the Olympics as the key to driving new subscriptions. Comcast shares were little-changed Thursday.

Earlier Thursday, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach told Japan's Kyodo News that the Summer Games are still on track to open July 23 in Tokyo, and added "There is no Plan B."

"We are fully committed to make these games safe and successful," he told the publication.