Samaranch Sports Channel reported on February 16 that the Florida Chief Financial Officer of the United States advised the International Olympic Committee that Florida would be willing to host the Olympic Games because the current host Japan may withdraw.
Jimmy Patronis wrote to IOC President Thomas Bach, “You can consider moving the 2021 Olympics from Tokyo, Japan, to the United States, more specifically, to Florida,” the Japan Times reported on January 26.
“As media reports say Japanese leaders have concluded ‘privately’ they are concerned about hosting the Olympics in 2021 amid the pandemic, and if it’s still too much time to deploy a site selection team in Florida,” he said.
The letter, signed by Patronis and published online, mentions state support.
But Florida is still struggling in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, where more than 25,000 people have died so far, while the death toll in the United States is close to 420,000.
“No matter what precautions are needed, we can sort it out and finally fix it,” Patronis said.
Not long ago, the parties responsible for organizing the Tokyo Olympic Games insisted that they would stick to the original plan to hold the Olympic Games from July 23 to August 8.
“I am determined to hold a safe Tokyo Olympic Games to prove that mankind will defeat the virus,” said Japanese Prime Minister Suga.
