Speaking with reporters in a teleconference, Tokyo 2020 Chief Executive Toshiro Muto blamed the pandemic's unpredictability.

"I don't think anyone would be able to say if it is going to be possible to get it under control by next July or not," Muto was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "We certainly are not in position to give a clear answer."

The Games were originally scheduled to begin in late July but were pushed back to the summer of 2021 when the International Olympic Committee and organizers agreed it would be too dangerous to gather hundreds of thousands of athletes, officials and fans under the current circumstances this summer.