IOC Reviewing Tokyo Games Scenarios
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SPORT SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2020 IOC reviewing Tokyo Games scenarios REUTERS – NEW YORK from the pandemic on the Olympics. able to continue operations and con- “We don’t know what the situ- tinue to accomplish our mission,” he Colombia, The International Olympic Committee ation will be,” he said. said. is considering various scenarios for “Of course we are considering dif- “The 206 national Olympic com- the Tokyo Games amid the corona- ferent scenarios, but we are contrary Thanks to our risk mittees and the international sports Slovenia add virus pandemic but cancellation is not to many other sports organizations management policies that federations expressed that the world one of them, IOC President Thomas or professional leagues in that we are in this extremely difficult and con- to call for Bach has told the New York Times. four and a half months away from the have been in place for four cerning situation needs a symbol of Organisers of the world’s biggest Games. years and our insurance, hope. Games delay multi-sports event have repeatedly “What makes this crisis so unique the IOC in any case will be “So for us, while not knowing how said the Games would start on July and so difficult to overcome is the long this tunnel will be, we would like 24 as scheduled, even as the rapid uncertainty. Nobody today can tell able to continue operations the Olympic flame to be a light at the REUTERS – BOGOTA spread of the flu-like virus has you what the developments are and continue to accomplish end of the tunnel...” brought sporting events around the tomorrow, what they are in one our mission: IOC President In recent days several athletes, The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo globe to a standstill. month, not to mention in more than including reigning Olympic pole vault should be postponed if the coronavirus The coronavirus, which emerged four months.” Thomas Bach champion Katerina Stefanidi, accused epidemic is not under control soon, the in China late last year, has killed Japan is expected the IOC of putting athletes’ health at heads of the Colombian and Slovenian more than 10,000 people to welcome risk by urging them to continue to Olympic Committees have said, joining worldwide, sparking fears 600,000 overseas in billions of dollars and at least $12bn train while many countries are in a chorus which has called for the that the Olympics might be spectators and spent on preparations. lockdown mode. event’s suspension. postponed or cancelled. athletes to the Bach said the final decision on the Bach, a former Olympic gold med- Despite suspensions of sports Bach, however, said the event, which Games would not be determined by allist in fencing, said he sympathised leagues and Olympic trials around the IOC was not even consid- has seen financial interests. Protecting the with the athletes. world, the International Olympic Com- ering scrapping the Games. sponsors health of everyone involved and con- “For an athlete, the worst thing mittee (IOC) has said it does not intend “The cancellation is not pump taining the virus were the main for preparation is the uncertainty that to cancel the Games, set to begin July on the agenda. We are com- objectives, he added. distracts from training and prepara- 24. mitted to the success of these “Thanks to our risk tions,” he said. “I told the 220 athletes “The most prudent and of course Games,” he said. management policies in the phone call on Wednesday that the most respectful decision of the An IOC task force, which that have been in we cannot pretend we have answers International Olympic Committee and included the World Health place for four years to all your questions. of the organizers in Tokyo is to Organization, had deter- and our “We are in the same situation postpone the Games in case they can’t mined it was too early insurance, as you and the rest of the world. It give the guarantee of risk-less partic- to make a decision the IOC in is a unique exceptional situation, ipation,” Baltazar Medida, head of the on how to manage IOC President Thomas Bach any case which requires exceptional Colombian Olympic Committee told the impact will be solutions.” Reuters late on Thursday. “If they don’t achieve that they undoubtedly will have to be post- poned,” he said. Delaying the Games was not dis- Olympic flame arrives in Japan to quiet ceremony cussed on a recent phone call with national Olympic committees, Medida Japan's three- said, though it should be if the outbreak time Olympic gold continues over the coming months. medalists Tadahiro Japan is expected to welcome Nomura and Saori 600,000 overseas spectators and ath- Yoshida pose for letes to the event, which has seen photographs after sponsors pump in billions of dollars lighting the Olympic and at least $12bn spent on Flame at the Olympic preparations. cauldron during The coronavirus, which emerged a scaled-down in China late last year, has killed more ceremony at Japan than 10,000 people worldwide. Air Self-Defense “In my personal opinion I would say yes (it should be postponed) and Force Matsushima I’m sure that the International Olympic Base in Higashi- Committee would do it because it’s a Matsuhsima, Miyagi way of acting responsibly,” he said. prefecture, northern “We cannot, to comply with the Japan, yesterday. scheduling of some Games, put at risk The Olympic torch the health of 10,500 athletes and all relay will start from the people with them.” the J-Village soccer If the Games go ahead on the training facility in scheduled dates, the performance of ath- Fukushima Prefecture letes is likely to have been damaged by on March 26. the suspension of training, Medida said. Elsewhere, the Slovenian Olym- pic Committee Bogdan Gabrovec told national news agency STA yesterday Aussies seek 'fair play' from Tokyo 2020 organisers that the Olympic Games cannot be held in July in line with the Olympic princi- ple. Aside from other things, sportsmen AP – SYDNEY athletes still haven’t qualified for their source of medals at the Olympics and simply do not have equal opportuni- events. world championships for Australia, ties in these conditions to prepare for Australia’s swimmers are more “We are still preparing for the where the climate, location and rela- the Games. concerned about a level playing field Olympics and Paralympics to the best tively high number of Olympic-size "There would be nothing wrong with than ruling the pool at the Olympics. of our ability but we absolutely under- We hope the IOC and pools is an advantage, but not an holding the Games in 2021, by then con- The coronavirus pandemic has stand that for a lot of our peers and (Paralympic organisers) are insurmountable one. ditions will calm down. If that would killed more than 10,000 people and colleagues this isn’t the reality “At the heart of the Olympic and not happen, the Olympic Games would infected more than 240,000, sending anymore, as it may not be for us soon,” considering everything they Paralympic competition is the notion not be important as a fight for survival some cities into lock down, some Swimming Australia said in a release can to ensure that there is a of fair play - a value we hold very would dominate," he added. countries to close borders and most co-signed by head coach Jacco Ver- level playing field, with athletes close, and we do not want that to be Slovenian athletes are unable to train major sports events and leagues to haeren yesterday, not long after being able to perform in healthy compromised,” the statement in groups after the country's govern- be suspended, postponed or Olympic flame from Greece landed in continued. ment earlier on Friday prohibited all canceled. Japan. conditions: Swimming Australia “We know athlete preparation is socialising in public spaces. The IOC and Tokyo organisers still “We hope the IOC and (Paralympic being severely compromised. Slovenia, which borders Italy, Aus- maintain that the Olympic will start organisers) are considering everything Friendship and solidarity are tria, Hungary and Croatia, has so far as scheduled on July 24, despite travel they can to ensure that there is a level The key theme? It would be fairer important Olympic and Paralympic confirmed 341 coronavirus cases, one bans, isolation requirements and playing field, with athletes being able to postpone the Olympics. values and we stand with you in this person has died. other issues meaning thousands of to perform in healthy conditions.” Swimming has been a regular time of uncertainty.” Cricket boards brace for losses in the time of coronavirus REUTERS – NEW DELHI A curtailed or cancelled The International Cricket Crew members of Tower Sports pack up their equipment at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore tournament would mean sig- Council (ICC), which runs the on March 17, after Pakistan’s Twenty20 cricket league was suspended just hours before the start of When the mighty Indian cricket nificant losses for the Board of tournament, said it was moni- board decided this week that Control for Cricket in India the semi-finals because of the coronavirus pandemic in this file photo. toring the situation. only the chief among its (BCCI), which gets around 400 “We are planning for the national selectors would travel million rupees ($5.38m) event to go ahead as scheduled,” business class, it merely annually from broadcaster it said on the tournament confirmed straitened times for STAR India and its central pool website. the game amid the coronavirus of sponsors. Cricket Australia stands to outbreak.