International Olympics Committee president Thomas Bach cancelled his upcoming trip to Japan due to the country's surging COVID-19 cases and the Tokyo emergency order that was extended through the end of May, but the IOC insists the Olympics will be safe for athletes when it begins in about 10 weeks. 

Bach planned to travel to Hiroshima next Monday to view the Olympic torch relay and then travel to Tokyo, but reports first emerged Friday the trip would be "tough" for Bach after Japanese government extended the state of emergency order in Tokyo. 

While the IOC and Japanese officials say the Olympics will happen this summer, a recent poll showed nearly 70 percent of Japanese citizens want the games canceled and more than 300,000 people signed a petition to postpone or cancel the 2021 Olympics. 

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshidie Suga said he wouldn't "put the Olympics first" and his "priority has been to protect the lives and health of the Japanese population.” 

The Tokyo 2020 press office said in a statement to Forbes the organizing committee would "continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Japan" and "rearrange Bach's visit to Japan as soon as possible.” 

The Olympics are set to begin on July 23 and will last through Aug. 8. 

(With input from agencies)