The Tokyo Olympic Games, which were postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are unlikely to happen, according to Keith Mills, former chief executive of the London 2012 Olympics.
"Personally, sitting here looking at the pandemic around the world, it looks unlikely I have to say," Mills told Radio 5 Live's Wake Up To Money.
Tokyo is in its second state of emergency after a surge of coronavirus cases and about 4,500 deaths.
"If I was sitting in the shoes of the organizing committee in Tokyo, I would be making plans for a cancellation and I'm sure they have plans for a cancellation. They've got another month or so before they need to make a call."
Earlier this week, Japanese cabinet minister Taro Kono said "it could go either way" when asked if the Tokyo Olympics would be held.
A recent poll showed that about 80% of the Japanese public believes the Olympic Games either will not happen or should not happen.
Only five Olympics have ever been canceled. The Summer Games in 1916, 1940 and 1944 were canceled, as well as the Winter Games in 1940 and 1944. The IOC has stated the Olympics will not be postponed again and would be canceled if the Games are unable to happen in 2021.
Despite the growing concerns in Japan about whether the Olympics will go ahead in 2021, the Japanese government remains committed to holding the Games in 2021.
"We have decided the venues and schedule, and the people involved are working on preparations including infection control," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said.
Japan's top government spokesman has stated that widespread distribution of coronavirus vaccines is not a prerequisite for moving forward with the Tokyo Games.
Erica Wiebe, a 2016 Olympic champion in women's wrestling for Canada, believes frontline workers and vulnerable people should receive vaccines before Olympic athletes.
"I think the Olympic movement stands in its purity for a lot more than just putting athletes on stage to entertain the world," Wiebe told the CBC.
"The most important people that need to get the vaccine are front-line workers, those most at risk and people in long-term care homes -- they are the ones that need to be prioritized."
Over 15,000 athletes from more than 200 different countries are scheduled to compete at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which begin July 23. The wrestling competition is set for Aug. 1-7.
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