First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Tokyo for the opening ceremony of the Olympics, pressing ahead with a trip after authorities closed events in the city amid a virus surge. Biden’s office announced her trip Tuesday, saying that she would be in Japan for the opening ceremony on July 23. All Olympic events in and around Tokyo will be held without fans, according to a joint decision earlier this month by Olympic and Japanese authorities. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared a fourth state of emergency for Tokyo, running from July 12 through Aug. 22, as the region grapples with a surge in virus cases. More than half of the 43 Olympic and Paralympic venues are in Tokyo.

Source: Mint July 13, 2021 13:30 UTC