Should the U.S. be looking to host the Olympics this summer amid the coronavirus pandemic if Japan backs out of hosting them in Tokyo?
Florida’s chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, sent a letter to the head of the International Olympic Committee saying his state would be happy to host them, writing he wanted to, quote, “encourage you to consider relocating the 2021 Olympics from Tokyo, Japan to the United States of America, and more specifically to Florida.” The letter was also posted online.
Can’t the @Olympics just come to Florida? Everyone else is to the tune of 900 new residents a day! #ComeToFlorida 🇺🇸 🇮🇹 🇩🇪 🇬🇷 🇬🇧 🇯🇲 🇫🇷 🇨🇱 🇲🇽 🇨🇦 🇯🇵 🇪🇬 🇮🇳 🇳🇴 🇦🇺 #WinGoldInFlorida 🏅#flapol https://t.co/uKJfL3VLm2
— Jimmy Patronis (@JimmyPatronis) January 25, 2021
Patronis’ offer comes amid media reports that Japan may cancel hosting the Tokyo Olympics, which had already pushed back a year from 2020 due to the pandemic, because of the still ongoing global health crisis. Patronis cited what he said is the success of Florida’s roll-out of the vaccine, its economic reopening, sports events it’s hosted during the pandemic, and the fact that its theme parks, including Disney World, are open.
He wrote, “Whatever precautions are required let’s figure it out and get it done.”
