US President Joe Biden will not attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, according to the White House. The Tokyo Olympic Games are due to take place from July 23 until August 8. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, "The president is not planning to attend the games."
Despite Biden's decision, the Japanese government is making arrangements for US first lady Jill Biden to visit Japan for the Tokyo Olympics. Jill will also meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. According to the Japan Times, her other programs are also being decided along with the opening ceremony. Earlier, President Biden had expressed his support for the Olympic Games during the Coronavirus epidemic, saying that Suga would be successful in organizing the event with safety.
Meanwhile, Romania tennis player Simona Halep has confirmed she would not be participating in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. In a tweet, she wrote, "Nothing brings me more pride than representing Romania, but sadly the recovery from my calf injury requires more time and I have made the decision to withdraw from the Olympic Games this summer. After the disappointment of missing the French Open and Wimbledon."
In another tweet, Halep said: "Having to skip the Olympics is incredibly tough to digest. But I am determined to come back stronger I will be watching and cheering on the Romanian athletes from home."
Earlier, defending women's singles champion Halep pulled out of the upcoming Wimbledon 2021 due to a calf injury. Halep retired from a second-round match against Germany's Angelique Kerber at the WTA clay-court event in Rome in mid-May and hasn't competed since.
