The petition comes with Tokyo, Osaka and several other areas under a state of emergency with coronavirus infections rising – particularly new variants.

The second version of the “Playbooks” for athletes are released by the IOC and local organizers, highlighted by more testing for all involved as the pandemic surges in Japan.

The organizing committee and key politicians seem to be sending mixed messages with the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to start in just over three months.

“If it seems impossible to go on with the games, they must be definitely canceled,” said Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Despite surging cases of COVID-19, myriad scandals and overwhelming public opposition in Japan to holding the Games, organizers and the IOC are pushing on.

China’s selection as host has been under fire, and a State Department spokesman suggested the U.S. might consult with other countries about forming a coalition to skip the Games

Sophia Laukli of Yarmouth ‘was very happy with how it went, it felt good’ after finishing 23rd at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championship on Tuesday.

Yoshiro Mori intends to resign as the head of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee on Friday, according to local media reports, after the uproar caused by his sexist comments.