VOA慢速英语2021 日本官员称东京奥运会仍可能被取消（在线收听）

A top ruling party official in Japan said Thursday it is still possible that the Tokyo Olympics could be canceled.

日本执政党高级官员周四表示，东京奥运会仍有可能被取消。

The comment came from Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He spoke to broadcaster TBS as COVID-19 cases have been rising across Japan.

这一言论出自执政党自民党干事长二阶俊博。随着日本各地新冠肺炎病例上升，他接受了东京广播公司的采访。

"If it seems impossible to go on with the games, they must be definitely canceled," Nikai said. "If there is a surge in infections because of the Olympics, there will be no meaning to having the Olympics."

二阶俊博表示：“如果似乎办不了奥运会，就必须明确取消。如果由于奥运会导致感染激增，那么举办奥运会就没有任何意义。”

However, Nikai added that he felt it was important for Japan to keep working to put on a successful Olympic Games. "It is a big opportunity. I want to make it a success," he said. "We will have many issues to resolve and prepare, and it is important to take care of them one by one."

然而二阶俊博还表示，他认为对于日本来说，继续努力举办一届成功的奥运会非常重要。他说：“这是一个很好的机会，我想让它成功举办。我们将有需要问题需要解决和准备，因此一项一项地解决这些问题就很重要。”

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said in a statement there was "no change to the government position to do everything to achieve a safe and secure Olympics."

日本首相菅义伟在一份声明中表示，日本政府尽一切努力举办一届安全、安心的奥运会的立场没有改变。

Tokyo organizers said they -- together with officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) -- "are fully focused on hosting the games this summer."

东京奥组委表示，他们与国际奥委会官员一起，“全身心投入于今年夏天举办奥运会。”

The recent rise in COVID-19 cases included 729 new cases in Tokyo on Thursday, the most since early February. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike urged people in the city to take extra protections and asked people from outside Tokyo not to visit.

最近新冠肺炎病例上升，包括周四东京出现729例新病例，是2月初以来的新高。东京都知事小池百合子督促东京市民采取进一步保护措施，并要求东京以外人士不要前来。

Tokyo, Osaka and several other areas began new anti-virus restrictions this month. The measures limited operating hours for restaurants and drinking establishments. Local media reported other areas were likely to put new restrictions in place as well.

东京、大阪和其它几个地区本月开始实施新的反病毒限制措施。这些措施包括限制饭店和饮酒场所的营业时间。当地媒体报道，其它地区也可能会制定新的限制措施。

Some experts have warned that a new COVID-19 version, or variant, might replace the current virus and cause an explosion of infections by early May.

有专家警告说，新冠病毒新变种可能会取代目前的病毒，并在5月初引起感染激增。

Another Japanese official told a local television station that if the Tokyo Olympics do go forward, the events may be held with no fans. "I think the question is how to do the Olympics in a way that is possible in this situation," said Taro Kono. He is the government minister in charge of Japan's vaccination efforts. "That may mean there will probably be no spectators."

另一位日本官员对当地电视台表示，如果东京奥运会继续推进，则比赛可能会空场进行。河野太郎说：“我认为问题是在这种情况下，如果以可能的方式举办奥运会。”他是负责日本疫苗接种工作的政府大臣。他说：“这可能意味着没有观众。”

The delayed Tokyo Olympics are set to open on July 23, with the Paralympics to follow on August 24. Fans from outside Japan have already been banned. Now even Japanese attendees could be kept away.

已被推迟的东京奥运会定于7月23日开幕，残奥会将于8月24日开幕。日本以外观众已经被禁止参加。现在，即使是日本观众也可能被拒之门外。

Tokyo organizers have said they expect to announce a decision this month on the number of fans permitted at each event.

东京奥组委表示，他们预计本月会宣布每场比赛允许多少观众入场。