Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be delayed if it cannot run in ‘complete way’ because of coronavirus pandemic, Japanese PM says
THE Tokyo Olympics are set to be postponed.
Bosses at the International Olympic Committee will decide within a month whether to move the Games from its July 24 start date because of the global coronavirus pandemic.
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But cancelling the 32nd summer Olympics “is not on the agenda”.
Team GB chiefs are adamant the sporting showpiece cannot go ahead as planned in July and August.
In an open letter to athletes, IOC president Thomas Bach wrote: “We have started detailed discussions to complete our assessment of the rapid development of the worldwide health situation and its impact on the Olympics, including a scenario of postponement.
“We’re working very hard and we are confident that we will have finalised these discussions within the next four weeks.
“Our basis of information today is that a final decision about the date of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 now would still be premature.
“We are in a dilemma. Cancellation of the Games would destroy the Olympic dream of 11,000 athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees.
“Cancellation would not solve any problem and would help nobody. Therefore it is not on our agenda.”
Cancellation would not solve any problem and would help nobody. Therefore it is not on our agenda.”
Thomas Bach
It was later revealed that Lord Sebastian Coe, the head of track and field’s world governing body, had written a letter (below) to Bach in which he made a unanimous “request that the Games be moved.”
Lord Coe gave three reasons that were: “Competition fairness… we can no longer expect a fair and level playing field in our sport given the number of athletes who are struggling to train, due to measures put in place to reduce the spread of coronavirus.”
His second was that being unable to train properly will see athletes push harder and “increase the propensity for injury”.
While the third is that Coe does not want athletes to “risk their health and the health of their families” and their “emotional well being”.
One option is moving it to the cooler months of October.
Another is postponing it to July 2021 — but that would clash with other major sports events.
A decision will be taken by the IOC with the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, international federations, national Olympic committees, broadcasters and sponsors.
The British Olympic Association, Paralympic Association and UK Sport are hosting a conference call tomorrow with different sports to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on their athletes.
It is believed several sports will push for the Games to be delayed.
BOA chairman Sir Hugh Robertson said: “Restrictions now in place have removed the ability of athletes to compete on a level playing field.
“And it simply does not seem appropriate to continue on the present course towards the Olympic Games in the current environment.”
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World Athletics and the International Paralympic Committee backed the decision to look into a potential postponement.
And UK Sport chairman Dame Katherine Grainger said: “News that the IOC are looking at options to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was inevitable and the correct decision for the safety of athletes, staff and fans.”
Brit star Dina Asher-Smith said: “So wait…does this mean that athletes face up to another FOUR weeks of finding ways to fit in training – whilst potentially putting ourselves, coaches, support staff and loved ones at risk just to find out they were going to be postponed anyway?”