Florida’s chief financial officer told the International Olympic Committee on Monday that the state would be happy to host the Olympic Games amid speculation that the current host, Japan, may give up.
Jimmy Patronis sent a letter to Thomas Bach, head of the IOC, “to encourage him to consider moving the 2021 Olympics from Tokyo, Japan, to the United States of America and, more specifically, to Florida”.
“With media reports from leaders in Japan concluding ‘privately’ that they are very concerned about the pandemic for the 2021 Olympics, there is still time to send a site selection team to Florida,” he said.
The letter, signed by Patronis and published online, cited the alleged strength of the state’s vaccination implementation, its economic reopening and sporting events it hosted during the pandemic, as well as the fact that its theme parks, including Disney World, are open for business.
But Florida has struggled hard against the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 25,000 deaths so far in the state, while the death toll in the U.S. approaches 420,000.
“Whatever the necessary precautions, let’s find out and do,” said Patronis.
Last Friday, the parties responsible for organizing the Tokyo Games – scheduled for last year but delayed by a year because of the global health crisis – insisted that they would stick to the planned July 23 dates until August 8th.
“I am determined to carry out safe and protected Tokyo Games as proof that humanity has overcome the virus,” said Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
lm / ma / jh / bgs