The IOC gives itself four weeks to decide whether or not to continue the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Due to the corona crisis, international pressure to move the event is increasing.
The executive board of the IOC convened an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the state of affairs through a conference call. The international sports umbrella then released a statement, in which it writes that health and safety are a priority.
“Together with the Japanese authorities, the local government in Tokyo and the Organizing Committee, we will start a secure discussion of how to respond to this global and rapidly growing crisis. Postponement is a scenario,” writes the IOC.
The Games will not be completely canceled anyway. “That does not solve any problem for anyone,” says the sports umbrella.
IOC should consider 33 sports calendars
It is the first time that the IOC has spoken openly about the option of postponing the Games. The four-yearly sporting event is scheduled to start in 123 days and last from July 24 to August 9. The Paralympics should start on August 25.
The IOC takes less than a month to look at different scenarios and speaks of a complex situation. “We will have to take into account the international calendars of 33 different sports. And in Tokyo, millions of hotel nights will have to be booked. And these are just some of the many challenges that await us.”
Calls for procrastination are increasing
In recent days, the call to postpone the biggest sporting event in the world has been increasing. The National Olympic Committees of Brazil, Colombia, Norway, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia insisted on a different date, as did major sports federations such as the American Swimming Federation and Athletics Federation, the French Swimming Federation and the British Athletics Association.
In addition, countless athletes called for postponement. They are concerned about the health of the hundreds of thousands of spectators, approximately eleven thousand athletes and thousands of media representatives.
Many qualifying tournaments have been canceled due to the corona virus, as a result of which only 57 percent of the intended eleven thousand participants have currently qualified. In addition, in many countries, Olympians can barely train because of government measures and doping inspectors cannot do their job.
Follow the latest developments around the virus in the sports world in us live blog.
The coronavirus in short
- The coronavirus mainly spreads through sneezing and cough drops. The virus can be transmitted directly from person to person or (for a limited time) through surfaces such as door handles.
- An infected person infects two to three others on average. Precautions are necessary to contain this.
- The vast majority of patients have mild (flu-like) complaints.
- Nearly all deaths involve the elderly or other frail, such as heart, lung or diabetes patients. If everyone complies with the measures, this reduces their risks.
- Read here what precautions you should take.
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