TOKYO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- International Olympic Committee's Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi says that Japanese public should be proud of their achievements as the postponed Tokyo 2020 Games is set to open in one week's time.

"Be proud of what has been done. Organizing an event like this one is never a small feat, organizing the Games in the context of the pandemic is a first. And it's only because you have amazing people here in Japan, very competent authorities, very competent business, and very competent organizing skills, that you can do this," Dubi told the Olympic News Service on Friday.

Despite the uncertainties in the build-up to the Tokyo Games, Dubi said the IOC is now confident about the readiness of the Olympics.

"Very confident. You have some of the best ever venues. As the president declared on a number of occasions, this is probably the best ever prepared organizing committee," said Dubi.

"Incredibly focused as well. On top of great operations we have this extra layer of complexity linked to the COVID countermeasures and all the additional operations we have if we want to ensure what is our number one objective: a safe Games. It means an extra focus."

Effective collaboration has been the key to the Games, according to Dubi.

"Great collaboration between all parties involved. And when I say all parties, everybody within the Olympic Movement and here in Japan have their role to play, starting with the key decision to postpone for a year, which had to be taken in consultation," he said.

"Re-planning something of this size is an immense task, which had never been done. It took everybody on board, all hands on deck, to re-imagine what the Games would be a year after. It took immense effort to simplify and save. Let's be very clear, postponing a year meant additional cost. We all had to contribute to the effort of simplifying these Games."

"And the last piece, collaboration was needed to develop the (COVID-19) countermeasures. International federations have an experience in delivering their events in a COVID context but it took more. It took countless experts and expert organizations to input into what these Games would be in terms of safety and security for everyone."

A person has tested positive for COVID-19 at the Tokyo Olympics athletes' village, adding to concerns about infections at the Games. Dubi noted that athlete safety is the No. 1 priority for the organizers.

"The protocols are amazingly rigorous. For everyone involved we have rules to follow, which have been established by a panel of experts. Everyone knows what they have to do to be a great Games participant, and a great Games participant means keeping everybody safe, starting with the athletes," he said.

"It's true, it's a different experience, but this is what it takes. It takes for everyone to be briefed, ask questions in case of doubt, be properly informed and follow the rules. If we do that, because they have been developed on the basis of best practice with the best experts, everybody will be safe."

Karate, skateboarding, sports climbing and surfing are set to make their Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.

"It means that the program of the Olympics must reflect what happens every single weekend in the streets, on the pitches, in the stadiums. The program must reflect the tastes around the globe, the evolution of sport in general, the evolution of the way we practise sport, the environment in which we practise sport," said Dubi.

"This time round we have very strong sports in Japan (on the program) and that's the objective as well, to allow the organizers to reflect some of the more local sports. But also, every time adding one piece here and there, because sport evolves.

"We will have breaking in Paris (2024) because breaking is big now. So it's great that they join. And in LA (2028) we will have new sports as well. That's the beauty of it. Yes it grows, but at the same time it reflects the development of sport." Enditem

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