No Games unless COVID contained: Japan PM

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says it will be impossible to host the Tokyo Olympic Games next year unless the coronavirus pandemic is contained.

"The Olympic Games must be held in a way that shows the world has won its battle against the coronavirus pandemic," Abe told parliament on Wednesday.

"Otherwise, it will be hard to hold the Games."

He was replying to a query from an opposition lawmaker whether Tokyo could host the Games in 2021, after this year's delay caused by the pandemic.