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Added on the 10/06/2020 19:30:06 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
"The impact is huge, as you can imagine. It never happened that we had to organise a postponed Olympic Games," IOC President Thomas Bach tells AFP in an exclusive interview. "We are looking, together with our Japanese partners and friends, on ways how we can simplify the organisation of the Games," he adds. SOUNDBITE FILMED BY THE IOC
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach reacts to a growing diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics in February, prompted by what the Western allies argue are widespread rights abuses by China. "The Games are about and for the athletes, and therefore you will hear the same comment from us for every political decision from any government," Bach says, adding, "the rest is politics, and there our political neutrality, the principle is applied." SOUNDBITE. TO COMPLETE VIDEO 9UA32F
French President Emmanuel Macron meets International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach as he arrives in Tokyo to attend the opening ceremony of the pandemic-postponed Olympics, which is taking place under strict virus rules. IMAGES
Images of IOC president Thomas Bach meeting with Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto in Japan's capital. IMAGES
International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach waves to reporters as he arrives at the Tokyo hotel where he will quarantine for three days, with just two weeks until the pandemic-postponed Games open. IMAGES