IOC president Thomas Bach insists Olympics will go ahead as planned

We have at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on July 23 in the Olympic Stadium

The IOC and its president Thomas Bach remain committed to the Olympic Games beginning as scheduled on July 23. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

There is no reason whatsoever to believe the Olympic Games will not begin as scheduled on July 23 in Tokyo despite the resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has said.

There have been renewed calls to cancel the Games, with Olympic rowing champion Matthew Pinsent suggesting the event could be put back to 2024 to prevent Tokyo missing out altogether.