Tokyo Olympics 2020 postponed? International Olympics Committee to decide within next four weeks
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Tokyo, March 23: The International Olympics Committee (IOC) on Sunday announced to safeguard the health of the all personnel and participants involved in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and to contribute in the containment of the deadly coronavirus, it will modify the plans of staging the event and come back with the final decision within the next four weeks.
However, cancellation is not their agenda and it will decide within the next four weeks . "The IOC is confident that it will have finalized these discussions within the next four weeks, and greatly appreciates the solidarity and partnership of the NOCs and IFs in supporting the athletes and adapting Games planning. The IOC EB emphasized that a cancellation of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would not solve any of the problems or help anybody. Therefore, cancellation is not on the agenda."
The announcement came after there has been a rapid increase in cases and new outbreaks of COVID-19 in more than 180 countries. This has led the IOC EB to the conclusion that the IOC needs to take the next step in its "scenario-planning". The challenges before the IOC are several venues needed for the Games could potentially not be available anymore. Further it stated, "The situations with millions of nights already booked in hotels are extremely difficult to handle, and the international sports calendar for at least 33 Olympic sports would have to be adapted. These are just a few of many, many more challenges."
While countries like Canada and Australia have said that it will not send any athlete to the event because of the risks associated with the coronavirus outbreak if the postponement does not take place. Even Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that a decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics might be needed due to the outbreak. More than 300,000 confirmed cases have been emerged along with 14,000 deaths across the world.
The Games which is supposed to begin on July 24 might be postponed after the IOC Executive Board (EB) came up with its scenario planning."The IOC will, in full coordination and partnership with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Japanese authorities, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, start detailed discussions to complete its assessment of the rapid development of the worldwide health situation and its impact on the Olympic Games, including the scenario of postponement," the statement said.
Health and safety paramount as IOC Executive Board agrees to step up scenario-planning for the Olympic Games #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/jvLYoW9yfG
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) March 22, 2020
However, cancellation is not their agenda and it will decide within the next four weeks . "The IOC is confident that it will have finalized these discussions within the next four weeks, and greatly appreciates the solidarity and partnership of the NOCs and IFs in supporting the athletes and adapting Games planning. The IOC EB emphasized that a cancellation of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would not solve any of the problems or help anybody. Therefore, cancellation is not on the agenda."
The announcement came after there has been a rapid increase in cases and new outbreaks of COVID-19 in more than 180 countries. This has led the IOC EB to the conclusion that the IOC needs to take the next step in its "scenario-planning". The challenges before the IOC are several venues needed for the Games could potentially not be available anymore. Further it stated, "The situations with millions of nights already booked in hotels are extremely difficult to handle, and the international sports calendar for at least 33 Olympic sports would have to be adapted. These are just a few of many, many more challenges."
While countries like Canada and Australia have said that it will not send any athlete to the event because of the risks associated with the coronavirus outbreak if the postponement does not take place. Even Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that a decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics might be needed due to the outbreak. More than 300,000 confirmed cases have been emerged along with 14,000 deaths across the world.