‘business As Usual’ For Tokyo 2020, As Cancellation Threat Looms
The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 could be under threat from the coronavirus outbreak but organisers are going ahead with ‘business as usual’ for the moment, according to IOC Member Dick Pound.
Speaking to the Associated Press, Pound – who has been an IOC Member since 1978 – admitted any decision to cancel the Games due to the outbreak of coronavirus would need to be taken in the next three months, but that for the moment coaches and athletes should remain focused on their preparations as if the event was going ahead.
Speaking about the timeline of any decision to cancel the Games, Pound said: “You could certainly go to two months out if you had to. A lot of things have to start happening. You’ve got to start ramping up your security, your food, the Olympic Village, the hotels. The media folks will be in there building their studios.”
Pound also hinted that, if the Games doesn’t go ahead as planned in July and August, it might be cancelled as opposed to postponed, but that the evidence given to the IOC at present doesn’t yet call for such drastic measures.
“It’s a big, big, big decision,” he said. “You just can’t take it until you have reliable facts on which to base it.
“It doesn’t call for cancellation or postponement of the Olympics. You just don’t postpone something on the size and scale of the Olympics. There’s so many moving parts, so many countries and different seasons, and competitive seasons, and television seasons. You can’t just say, we’ll do it in October.”
The coronavirus outbreak in China has already caused the postponement or cancellation of a number of sporting events, including Formula 1’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai and the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing. It’s spread to Europe is also threatening sporting events in Italy, with some Serie A games postponed and others played behind closed doors.
Italy’s remaining Guinness Six Nations fixtures, against Ireland in Dublin and England in Rome, could also be under threat.
Pound has told athletes and coaches to continue preparations as if the Games were going ahead, but hinted that the IOC would make a decision based on the situation.
“As far as we all know you’re going to be in Tokyo,” he said. “All indications are at this stage that it will be business as usual. So keep focused on your sport and be sure that the IOC is not going to send you into a pandemic situation.”
