The New Zealand Olympic team is still committed to going to the games in Japan despite 80 percent of the host nation's population saying they don't want the games to go ahead.
Recent surveys show up to 80 percent of the population in Japan would rather cancel the games and 6000 medical practitioners have written to the government saying "no thanks".
A number of host towns have pulled out - and the country remains, for now, in a state of emergency.
NZ olympic committee chief executive Kereyn Smith said Japan is a highly capable country that can make decisions about honouring the obligations and commitments of the Olympics.
"Presently, there's been a whole range of counter-measures that have been gradually implemented such as eliminating international guests, overseas spectators no longer going.
"All those things have gradually come back to the fact that they are committed."
Overnight, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga talked about the determination the government has to prepare and deliver the games.
"They continue to be confident they can do that. It's not for the New Zealand Olympic Committee to make that decision by any stretch of the imagination. That's a matter for a government to decide - whether they think it's safe to continue."
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Smith said the health and safety of our athletes and the Japanese people is a foremost concern.
"We're doing everything we can to minimise our footprint in Japan and in Tokyo while we're there. At the end of the day, the Olympic Games are going ahead for the countries of the world and we're one of those countries.
"Our athletes are obviously committed to going and, as long as we continue to believe, understand, and feel confident in the planning and processes, we'll continue to go."
She estimated that around 75-80 percent of the New Zealand athletes going to the games have been vaccinated for Covid-19.
"We absolutely want our athletes to be vaccinated, there is no doubt in our mind that it is the preferred state. In terms of the staff and performance support folk that are going to the games that we appoint, vaccination is a requirement."
If a New Zealand athlete were to get Covid-19 while in Japan, there are provisions for isolation in every team village, Smith said.
As for what would happen to the remainder of the team if it were an athlete that played in a team sport, Smith said the protocols are still being worked through.
"I don't underestimate that it's a very complex situation we find ourselves in but, notwithstanding that, it's a global sports event to go on around the globe.
"If the athletes want to go, and we're satisfied that we can ensure their health and safety and performance, and the hosts still want us, then we'll be going."
