Petition calling for canceling Olympics submitted with more than 350,000 signatures

A petition calling for the cancellation of the Olympics has garnered more than 350,000 signatures and has been submitted to Olympics officials.

The petition has more than 356,000 signatures after nine days and has been sent to the chiefs of the Olympic and Paralympic committees along with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, Reuters reported.

Kenji Utsunomiya, who ran for governor of Tokyo multiple times, started the petition because he believes the coronavirus is not under control enough in Japan for the country to host the games.

Japan extended its state of emergency on Friday to nine areas, that already included Tokyo, as it struggles to get coronavirus cases under control.

Utsunomiya says the games should be held once cases are under control and the country can safely welcome visitors.

“We are not in that situation and therefore the games should be canceled,” Utsunomiya said at a news conference. “Precious medical resources would need to be diverted to the Olympics if it’s held.”

The U.S. track and field team canceled its Olympic training camp in Japan over coronavirus concerns, as they felt the area wasn’t safe enough for their athletes.

“Though there is a global pandemic, it is important to hold a safe and secure Tokyo 2020 Games,” Koike said when asked about the petition against the games, according to Reuters.

Japan and Olympic officials have indicated that the games will go on and have no current plans to cancel them.