(Photo: Reuters-Yonhap News)
A Florida official has told the International Olympic Committee the state would be happy to host the Olympic Games amid speculation that current host Japan may back out.
Jimmy Patronis, Florida's chief financial officer, sent a letter to IOC President Thomas Bach encouraging him to "consider relocating the 2021 Olympics from Tokyo, Japan to the United States of America."
He added, "With media reports of leaders in Japan 'privately' concluding that they are too concerned about the pandemic for the 2021 Olympics to take place, there is still time to deploy a site selection team to Florida."
The letter, posted online, cited the supposed strength of state's vaccination campaign, its economic reopening and sports events it has hosted.
But Florida has struggled badly in the coronavirus pandemic, with over 25,000 deaths so far as the total U.S. death toll nears 420,000.
Last Friday, parties responsible for organizing the Tokyo Games, delayed for a year because of the global health crisis, insisted it would open on July 23.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said, "I am determined to realize a safe and secure Tokyo Games as proof that mankind will have overcome the virus."
Please send comments to tbsefmnews@gmail.com / copyright © tbs. Unauthorized redistribution prohibited.
