Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori said Tuesday that Japan would hold the Summer Olympics regardless of the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic and was working closely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make them happen.

"We will hold the Olympics, regardless of how the coronavirus (situation) looks," Mori said, adding that the discussion should focus on how, not whether, the Olympics will happen.

"We must consider new ways of hosting the Olympics" as a part of that, he said.

Mori added that while working together had its difficulties, Tokyo 2020 organizers and the IOC had a strong relationship.

Mori was speaking at the start of a meeting with Japan's Sports Research Commission.

The 2020 Games were postponed last year due to the global spread of the coronavirus.

A recent spike in infections in Japan that triggered a state of emergency in some areas has fueled speculation about whether the rescheduled Games can be held this summer.