TOKYO: A Japanese government panel on Thursday (May 20) recommended approval of Moderna and AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccines, as criticism mounts over the slow start to inoculations with just two months until the Olympics.

TOKYO -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday both reiterated their commitment that the postponed Olympic Games will be held as scheduled in a safe way.

Thomas Bach believes more than 80 per cent of people inside the Tokyo 2020 Athletes' Village will be vaccinated against COVID-19 during this year's Olympics - and has again insisted the Games will be "safe and secure".

TT OLYMPIC Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis has accepted an offer by the Pan American Sports Organisation to vaccinate all qualified athletes and accredited officials who will participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Executive Director of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Health Emergencies Programme, Dr Michael Ryan, has welcomed the strict COVID-19 countermeasures which are being put in place for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.