Coranavirus threat to 2020 Olympics – IOC chief
By EPHRAIM NWOSU
There are strong indications that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games scheduled to begin on July 24 could be postponed to 2022 amid health and travel concerns as authorities attempt to combat the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus disease.
As the number of cases worldwide continue to climb, fears over the outbreak have already prompted the mass cancellation of festivals and sporting events across Asia and events in Europe are also in question.
According to a senior member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Haruyuki Takahashi, advice from its medical team, who are in contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) , is that the wide spread of the Coronavirus both within China and other neighboring countries is still at a concerning level and it would be dangerous going ahead with a major gathering of that magnitude adding cancellation of the world biggest sports fiesta would be likely.
Takahashi hinted that a postponement of two years is more likely than a full cancellation because of the financial ramifications for the International Olympic Committee.
Officials from the IOC and Tokyo 2020 have repeatedly insisted the Games will go ahead as planned in July and August.
The Olympics could be held in 2022 if Coronavirus stops it going ahead in the summer.
But Takahashi, one of 25 members of the Organizing Committee’s executive board, told the Wall Street Journal: “We’ll have to start talking about this seriously from April. I don’t think the Games could be cancelled, it’d be a delay.
“The International Olympic Committee would be in trouble if there’s a cancellation. American TV rights alone provide them with a huge amount.”
Takahashi stated that a two-year delay would be the most feasible solution because sports schedules for the next year have largely been decided.
Japan is one of the many countries now battling to keep the spread of the virus under control
A postponement until later this year would mean the Games clashing with major professional sports leagues like the NFL, which would cause problems for NBC, the Olympic broadcasters in America.
Takahashi also does not think staging the Olympics behind closed doors is realistic because of how much money they would lose from tickets and other sales.
However, putting the Tokyo Games back two years would spell disaster for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, due to take place in July and August 2022.
Britain’s judo stars face an extended wait to earn qualification for the Olympics after all the sport’s international competitions were cancelled until May because of Coronavirus.
The International Judo Federation have scrapped all Tokyo 2020 qualification events in March and April, including a Grand Slam in Russia and Grands Prix in Turkey and Georgia.
An IJF statement said: “We are in the unfortunate position where we must take a drastic decision. The situation is now critical.”
