MOSCOW, July 8 President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach expressed condolences on the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, saying that without him the 2020 Games would never have taken place. Abe died on Friday after being attacked. During a street demonstration in the Japanese city of Nara, the politician was shot twice from behind. He was 67 years old.» Shinzo Abe was a man full of determination and boundless energy to bring his vision to life. What I appreciated most about him was that he was a man of his word. Only his vision, determination and reliability allowed us to make an unprecedented decision on the postponement of the Olympic Games in Tokyo to 2021. Without Prime Minister Abe, these Games would never have taken place, and the Olympic dream of athletes from all over the world would not have come true, «Bach is quoted by the IOC official website. As a sign of respect from the IOC, the Olympic flag will be flown at half mast at the Olympic House in Lausanne for three days. In November 2020, Abe was awarded the Golden Olympic Order, the highest honor of the Olympic Movement. As Japan's prime minister, Abe helped Tokyo win the right to host the Summer Olympics in 2013. Abe expected to host the Tokyo Olympics during his premier term, but the Games were postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
