Coronavirus, Bach: “Go ahead with the preparation for the Olympics”
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach insists that the Tokyo Olympics will continue as planned this summer despite the emergence of the coronavirus on a global scale. Bach’s comments come on the sidelines of a conference after the two-day meeting of the board in Lausanne, Switzerland. “The terms cancellation or postponement were not mentioned at all during the meeting,” said the number one of the IOC, explaining that the coordination work with the World Health Organization (WHO) continues – in reference to the meeting with the general manager Adhanom Ghebreyesus last week, and the decision to establish a task force to deal with extraordinary circumstances. The Tokyo organizers were informed via a video conference, and the coordination process also affects the Japanese executive and the metropolitan government of the capital. In a press conference late Wednesday evening in Japan, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said that the demonstrations for the passage of the Olympic torch could be reduced in agreement with local administrations, to avoid the gathering of large masses along the path. Their start is scheduled for March 26 from Fukushima, and the event will touch all 47 prefectures of Japan. The official start of the Olympic Games is scheduled for July 24, for a period of three weeks, until August 9.
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