自民・二階氏「無理ならすぱっとやめないと」　東京五輪、コロナ拡大必至の場合

　自民党の二階俊博幹事長は１５日、ＴＢＳのＣＳ番組収録で、新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大が続く場合、今夏の東京五輪・パラリンピックを「すぱっとやめないといけない」と述べた。五輪中止の可能性に言及したもので、有力幹部の発言だけに波紋を呼びそうだ。
　二階氏は、五輪開催でコロナの感染拡大を懸念する声があると問われ、「これ以上無理だということだったら、すぱっとやめないといけない。五輪で感染をまん延させると、何のための五輪か分からない」と指摘した。
　ただ、二階氏は番組内で「五輪を盛り上げることが日本にとって大事だ。大きなチャンスだ。成功させたい」とも述べた。
　二階氏の発言について同党幹部は「五輪中止という状況にはならない。開催する」と発言を打ち消した。（2021/04/15-12:39）

A Japanese ruling party executive said Thursday that this summer's Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games should be canceled if the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen.
   The comment by Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, is expected to make waves as the Japanese government has pledged to definitely stage the events.
   "If it's the case that we can't take it anymore, we have to fully give up," Nikai said in the recording of a Tokyo Broadcasting System Television Inc. satellite TV program, asked for comments about persistent concerns that infections could increase if the Olympics and Paralympics are held. "What would the Olympics be for if infections spread as a result of the games being held?"
   But Nikai said at the same time that it is important for Japan to key up excitement for the Tokyo Olympics. "It's a big opportunity, so we want to make it a success," he noted.
   Another LDP executive rebutted Nikai's comments, saying: "The Olympics and Paralympics will not be canceled. The events will take place."