Olympic Games in Tokyo 'uncertain' says Japanese minister

'It could go either way' says minister in build-up to summer event

A man wearing a protective face mask walks near the Olympic rings in Tokyo. AP

The future of the Olympics is uncertain, including the possibility the Games will not go ahead in Tokyo this Summer, Japan administrative and regulatory reform minister said on Thursday.

"We need to do the best we can to prepare for the Games at this moment, but it could go either way," Taro Kono said in an interview at the Reuters Next conference.

"Anything is possible, but as the host of the Games we need to do whatever we can. So that when it's a go, we can have a good Olympic Games," he added.

Dick Pound, the longest serving member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), recently said he was uncertain whether Tokyo 2020 will go ahead.

Pound said: "I can't be certain because the ongoing elephant in the room would be the surges in the virus."

The rescheduled Games are set to take place between 23 July and 8 August, after being postponed last summer.