Tokyo 2020: No mention of cancellation or postponement at IOC board meeting says Bach
IOC president Thomas Bach. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images for ANOC)
LAUSANNE, March 5, 2020 - The International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has refused to be drawn into widespread speculation about whether the fast-spreading coronavirus will affect this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, while reiterating that the Games will still go ahead as planned.
Bach told a news conference on Wednesday “neither the word cancellation nor the word postponement was even mentioned” during the second day of the IOC Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The IOC’s leadership had on Tuesday released a statement expressing its “full commitment” to the success of the Games scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August. But on the same day Japan's Olympic minister also claimed the Games could be postponed until later due to the coronavirus outbreak.
When asked how he could be so confident that the Olympics will not be postponed, Bach replied: “Because we talk to the experts. We are a sports organization and we follow the advice of the World Health Organization.” Bach met the WHO’s director general Tedros Adhanom and other leading officials last Friday. Meanwhile a joint task force which was created in mid-February, involving officials from the IOC, Tokyo 2020, the host city of Tokyo, the government of Japan and WHO, has also been working together.
In responding to another question about deadline for deciding whether to postpone the Tokyo Games, Bach added: “I will not add fuel to the flame of speculation.” But will the position of the IOC change if WHO declares a pandemic? “I will not take part in any way of such kind of mere speculations,” Bach insisted.
The coronavirus that emerged in China late last year has killed over 3,000 people and infected more than 95,000 worldwide. It has wrecked havoc in the sporting calendar as well, affecting even qualifying competitions for Tokyo 2020. There have been postponements, cancellations, venues changed, as well as travel issues for athletes.
“This is challenging,” Bach admitted, “but I must also say I'm pretty proud of the Olympic movement and the great solidarity everyone has shown so far to address these challenges.”
Bach revealed “quota allocations” could be implemented for sports worst affected by the coronavirus.
“We may have to consult with IFs with regard to quota allocations if there would be a case where athletes have been prevented from taking part in the qualification process,” Bach said.
“If such cases do arise, we will look with the IF into this and will try to find a fair solution. This fair solution can mean in the end that we will increase the quota places for this IF for a limited number of athletes, which according then to the judgement of the IFs, would most likely have qualified if they could have participated.”
Bach told a news conference on Wednesday “neither the word cancellation nor the word postponement was even mentioned” during the second day of the IOC Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The IOC’s leadership had on Tuesday released a statement expressing its “full commitment” to the success of the Games scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August. But on the same day Japan's Olympic minister also claimed the Games could be postponed until later due to the coronavirus outbreak.
When asked how he could be so confident that the Olympics will not be postponed, Bach replied: “Because we talk to the experts. We are a sports organization and we follow the advice of the World Health Organization.” Bach met the WHO’s director general Tedros Adhanom and other leading officials last Friday. Meanwhile a joint task force which was created in mid-February, involving officials from the IOC, Tokyo 2020, the host city of Tokyo, the government of Japan and WHO, has also been working together.
In responding to another question about deadline for deciding whether to postpone the Tokyo Games, Bach added: “I will not add fuel to the flame of speculation.” But will the position of the IOC change if WHO declares a pandemic? “I will not take part in any way of such kind of mere speculations,” Bach insisted.
The coronavirus that emerged in China late last year has killed over 3,000 people and infected more than 95,000 worldwide. It has wrecked havoc in the sporting calendar as well, affecting even qualifying competitions for Tokyo 2020. There have been postponements, cancellations, venues changed, as well as travel issues for athletes.
“This is challenging,” Bach admitted, “but I must also say I'm pretty proud of the Olympic movement and the great solidarity everyone has shown so far to address these challenges.”
Bach revealed “quota allocations” could be implemented for sports worst affected by the coronavirus.
“We may have to consult with IFs with regard to quota allocations if there would be a case where athletes have been prevented from taking part in the qualification process,” Bach said.
“If such cases do arise, we will look with the IF into this and will try to find a fair solution. This fair solution can mean in the end that we will increase the quota places for this IF for a limited number of athletes, which according then to the judgement of the IFs, would most likely have qualified if they could have participated.”
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