Japan 'cornered' into holding Games, says local Olympian

FILE PHOTO: Kaori Yamaguchi, a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee's Executive Board, gives an interview in Tokyo, Japan May 19, 2021, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Picture taken May 19, 2021. Kyodo/via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) -One of Japan's sporting heroes and a member of the local Olympic committee said on Friday her nation had been "cornered" into pressing ahead with the 2020 Games despite public opposition during the coronavirus pandemic.

The comments by Japanese Olympics Committee board member Kaori Yamaguchi, a judo medallist, added to rancour around Japan where the Games were postponed last year but are now due to start on July 23 despite a fourth wave of infections.