Nobody ‘wholly confident’ Olympics will go ahead, Princess Anne claims

Japan have consistently stated they plan for the Games to go ahead this summer

Princess Anne feels there's still uncertainty about the Tokyo Olympics actually taking place later this year, but has suggested there's "reasonable hope" that they will go ahead and has thanked organisers for persisting under the assumption that the Games will proceed.

Like most sporting events around the globe, the 2020 Olympics were postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic and hosts Japan are in a state of national emergency as a third wave continues to affect the country.

International Olympic Committee member Princess Anne acknowledged the need to be realistic as well as hoping for the best outcome, with many athletes timing "their careers around that Olympic cycle" and needing to continue training as though the Games will take place.

"I don't think anybody is wholly confident. I think we work on the basis that you plan for it, because, at the moment, particularly the Japanese are happy to work on that basis," Princess Anne told BBC Sport.

"And I think that's really good news because to be honest, they could have just said 'no, this is too difficult, too expensive and we're not going to do it'.

"So I think we'd be grateful that they're keeping the door open and people should plan for that."

The current British Olympic Association president also noted the role that coverage sport can play in everyday life, speaking of "the value that sport has" and how it inspires viewers to get involved in some capacity.

At present, the plan is for the Olympics to begin on 23 July, with the Paralympics following from 24 August.