<p>Tokyo Olympics organisers played down a poll showing plunging support for the Games on Tuesday and said a report claiming cancellation could be discussed next month was "fake news".</p>.<p>The comments, less than 200 days before the postponed Games start in July, come with greater Tokyo under a state of emergency over a spike in coronavirus cases and with countries around the world battling outbreaks.</p>.<p>In a New Year's address to staff, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto put a positive spin on a Kyodo news poll published Sunday showing 45 percent want the 2020 Games delayed again, with 35 percent favouring outright cancellation.</p>.<p>"The number of people calling for it to be cancelled has only risen by about five percent," Muto said.</p>.<p>"The number of people calling for it to be postponed has risen a lot, but that means those people still want it to be held," he added.</p>.<p>"Of course, for it to be held, we have to guarantee that we hold a safe Games with anti-virus measures. If you think of it in those terms, I firmly believe people will get more and more behind it."</p>.<p>British rowing great Matthew Pinsent has called for the Games to be cancelled and Tokyo to host the event in 2024 instead, replacing Paris.</p>.<p>Muto also dismissed as "fake news" a Japanese media report claiming the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020 organisers would debate the fate of the Games in February.</p>.<p>"When these types of reports surface, some people might feel anxious about them," said Muto.</p>.<p>"I want to say that we are not thinking that way at all, and that these reports are wrong."</p>
<p>Tokyo Olympics organisers played down a poll showing plunging support for the Games on Tuesday and said a report claiming cancellation could be discussed next month was "fake news".</p>.<p>The comments, less than 200 days before the postponed Games start in July, come with greater Tokyo under a state of emergency over a spike in coronavirus cases and with countries around the world battling outbreaks.</p>.<p>In a New Year's address to staff, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto put a positive spin on a Kyodo news poll published Sunday showing 45 percent want the 2020 Games delayed again, with 35 percent favouring outright cancellation.</p>.<p>"The number of people calling for it to be cancelled has only risen by about five percent," Muto said.</p>.<p>"The number of people calling for it to be postponed has risen a lot, but that means those people still want it to be held," he added.</p>.<p>"Of course, for it to be held, we have to guarantee that we hold a safe Games with anti-virus measures. If you think of it in those terms, I firmly believe people will get more and more behind it."</p>.<p>British rowing great Matthew Pinsent has called for the Games to be cancelled and Tokyo to host the event in 2024 instead, replacing Paris.</p>.<p>Muto also dismissed as "fake news" a Japanese media report claiming the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020 organisers would debate the fate of the Games in February.</p>.<p>"When these types of reports surface, some people might feel anxious about them," said Muto.</p>.<p>"I want to say that we are not thinking that way at all, and that these reports are wrong."</p>