A Japanese cabinet minister said on Friday that ‘anything can happen’ with the Tokyo Olympics, AFP reported.

The Games, originally scheduled to be held from July 24 August 9, 2020, were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taro Kono, Minister for Administrative and Regulatory reform, did ‘not rule out’ the possibility of the Olympics being cancelled, given that greater Tokyo and other regions are currently under a state of emergency until February 7.

“Given the coronavirus situation, anything can happen,” Kono said, as per AFP reports.

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“The organising committee and the IOC must of course be thinking about back-up plans. The government is firmly preparing for the Olympics and Paralympics.”

Findings from recent public opinion polls in Japan suggest that more than 80% of the people believe that the Games should be cancelled or postponed.

According to AFP, local media also that reported Japan is suspending an exemption in its emergency restrictions that allows foreign athletes to enter the country for training purposes.