The International Olympic Committee said Tuesday it was not the time for “drastic decisions” over the staging of the Tokyo Olympics, which has not yet been postponed because of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
“The IOC remains fully committed to the Olympic GamesTokyo 2020, and with more than four months to go before the Games there is noneed for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at thismoment would be counter-productive,” the IOC said in a statement after itsexecutive board met in Lausanne.
The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to run between July24-August 9, but the year’s biggest sporting event is as yet one of the solesporting competitions to have survived a postponement in the wake of theCOVID-19 outbreak that has caused more than 7,400 deaths and infected more than180,000 around the world.
The IOC statement fell shortly after news that both thissummer’s Euro 2020 and Copa America were to be postponed by one year to 2021.
“This is an unprecedented situation for the wholeworld, and our thoughts are with all those affected by this crisis,” theIOC said.
“The situation around the COVID-19 virus is alsoimpacting the preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and is changingday by day.” The IOC encouraged all athletes to continue to prepare forthe Tokyo Games “as best they can”.
“The IOC has confidence that the many measures beingtaken by many authorities around the world will help contain the situation ofthe COVID-19 virus.” One of the results of the virus outbreak has been thecancellation of qualifiers, in a number of sports, for the Tokyo Olympics.
But the IOC insisted it would work to surmount any difficulties that threw up. “To date, 57 percent of the athletes are already qualified for the Games,” it said. “For the remaining 43 percent of places, the IOC will work with the IFs (international federations) to make any necessary and practical adaptations to their respective qualification systems for Tokyo 2020.”