Preparations for the Tokyo Olympics are “company as normal” in spite of the break out of coronavirus, according to International Olympic Committee member Cock Pound.
A number of sporting occasions in China have actually been cancelled, with football in Italy also impacted.
Talking To Associated Press, Pound informed professional athletes to “keep concentrated on your sport”.
” As far as we all know, you’re going to remain in Tokyo,” he stated.
The outbreak in China has actually currently resulted in the cancellation of April’s Chinese Grand Prix, and cases in Italy caused the post ponement of 4 Serie A games last weekend and the decision to play five behind closed doors this weekend.
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Inter Milan’s Europa League last-32 home match against Ludogorets will be played behind closed doors on Thursday, while organisers of the 6 Countries are “monitoring extremely closely” the coronavirus scenario, with Italy set to host England and Ireland in the coming weeks.
Japan’s J-League has delayed all domestic football matches until the middle of March, while the Tokyo Marathon on 1 March will now be for elite professional athletes just rather of being a mass participation event.
With the Olympics due to start on 24 July, Pound stated any decision on whether the Games will proceed does not require to be taken till late May.
” You could definitely go to 2 months out if you had to,” the 77- year-old Canadian said. “A lot of things have to start taking place. You have actually got to begin increase your security, your food, the Olympic Town, the hotels, the media folks will remain in there constructing their studios.
” This is the brand-new war and you have to face it. Around that time, I ‘d state folks are going to have to ask: ‘Is this under enough control that we can be positive about going to Tokyo, or not?'”
Pound discussed that the IOC will be led by decisions taken by the World Health Company (WHO) and private nationwide governments.
” We’re pretty good at handling sport issues, however a pandemic is beyond our pay grade,” he informed BBC Radio 5 live.
” It will depend on the WHO to telephone with respect to global travel and the places that need to be prevented. It may come down to a government intervention in Japan, or other governments saying ‘we do not want our residents travelling there’.”
Pound said that cancelling the Games is a “worst-case situation” which other contingencies, such as a postponement, or perhaps dispersing occasions around the world, might be already be under consideration.
” We need to consider alternatives,” he said. “Could you still hold them this year? We would talk with the Japanese government to ask if this ‘bubble’ can be held in place.
” Everything is on the table. You might disperse the Games, for instance have some events in Canada, some in Britain, etc.”
In a declaration, an IOC spokesperson stated Pound had described “very well” the existing status of preparations for the Games.
The declaration continued: “Tokyo 2020 will continue to team up with all pertinent organisations which carefully keep track of any incidence of contagious diseases and will review any countermeasures that may be required with all pertinent organisations. In addition, the IOC touches with the World Health Organization, in addition to its own medical professionals.
” We have complete self-confidence that the appropriate authorities, in particular in Japan and China, will take all the necessary procedures to resolve the situation. The rest is speculation.”
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