Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau bump elbows as they meet on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Cornwall, Britain, on June 13. (Kotaro Ebara)

CORNWALL, Britain--Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he was heartened by what he described as “strong support” from the Group of Seven leaders for holding the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.

The leaders offered their support when Suga conveyed that Japan would impose extensive anti-coronavirus measures to ensure the safety of those involved in the sporting events, he told reporters covering the summit here on June 13.

“I have renewed my resolve to hold the Games and lead them to a success,” he said.

The communique released following the June 11-13 G-7 summit stated that the leaders “reiterate our support for the holding of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 in a safe and secure manner as a symbol of global unity in overcoming COVID-19.”

In February, the leaders issued a similar statement after an online meeting, saying they "support the commitment of Japan" to stage the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

During the summit, Japanese officials worked rigorously to garner backing for the Tokyo Olympics.

Suga received positive responses when he raised the topic of the Summer Games during separate meetings with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, one of the four guest nations invited to the summit, according to Japanese Foreign Ministry officials.

But Suga was unable to discuss the Games with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to Japanese officials. Their meeting was focused on regional situations, leaving little time for them to touch on the subject, the officials said.

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