Even though polls show the great majority of Japanese want to cancel the Tokyo Summer Olympics because of the risk of COVID-19 infections, Japan's prime minister insists the games will go on.

Tokyo-area hospitals "have their hands full," the Tokyo Medical Practitioners Association says in an open letter to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. The group represents some 6,000 primary care doctors.

The Japanese government remains adamant that the games will proceed as planned, even as local governments and protesters express rising concern about hosting the event during the pandemic.

With the Tokyo Games weeks away, the pharmaceutical company and its German partner, BioNTech, have agreed to donate the necessary doses.

The games, already delayed by a year due to COVID-19, are set to begin July 23 despite reluctance by many Japanese to go ahead with the Olympics amid the ongoing pandemic.

Pyongyang will skip the games, shattering South Korea's hopes that the games might revive stalled peace talks between the bitter rivals.

Hiroshi Sasaki resigned as the director of the opening and closing Olympic ceremonies after it was revealed that he had suggested that a female comedian should appear as an "Olympig."

Seiko Hashimoto competed as a speed skater in four Winter Games and as a cyclist in three Summer Games. She replaces Yoshiro Mori, who resigned under pressure after complaining women talk too much.

Yoshiro Mori, the 83-year-old president of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee, bows to pressure following his sexist remarks and resigns.

The Tokyo Olympic committee head plans to resign Friday amid a firestorm of criticism about his comments disparaging women's participation in organizing the Tokyo Games, say Japanese outlets.

Yoshiro Mori, Japan's former prime minister and head of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee, said on Wednesday that women who talk too much should have their speaking time at meetings restricted.