10,000 out of 80,000 Tokyo Olympics volunteers quit

June 03, 2021 11:21

10,000 of 80,000 volunteers scheduled to help at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have quit. "I think there's no doubt that one of reasons is concern over coronavirus infections," say local media reports quoting Toshiro Muto, CEO of organizing committee.

Japan extended a state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas by about three weeks to June 20 as the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of easing less than two months before the Summer Olympics open.

The state of emergency in the capital and eight other prefectures had been scheduled to end on May 31, but strains on the medical system remain severe.

Japan has seen a record number of COVID-19 patients in critical condition in recent days, even as the number of new infections has slowed.

"In Osaka and Tokyo, the flow of people is starting to creep up, and there are concerns that infections will rise," Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who also heads the country's coronavirus countermeasures, said at the start of a meeting with experts.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

EC issues notice over Modi's 'mangalsutra' speech

Separately, the poll panel also issued a notice to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, asking him to respond to the complaints filed by the BJP against him and the main opposition party's senior leader Rahul Gandhi regarding their...

Firing outside Salman's home: Cops claim 'international link'

The Mumbai police on Thursday told a court in Mumbai that there is a possibility of an 'international connection' in the recent firing outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan's residence.

Nehra, not Hardik, built GT legacy? Gill's admission

Shubman Gill feels that he will be "doing injustice to himself and his team" if national selection occupies his mind.

In Pictures - Patidar, Kohli hit 50s to take RCB to 206/7

IMAGES from the IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru played in Hyderabad on Thursday

Chess whiz Gukesh reveals his inspiration: Find out who

D Gukesh admires the way charismatic former India skipper MS Dhoni and iconic tennis player Novak Djokovic