Thomas Bach, president of the Lausanne, Switzerland-based International Olympic Committee (IOC), has convened a conference call with international federations on Tuesday, March 17th. On the agenda will be the evolving situation related to COVID-19 and how it might affect the 2020 Olympic Games, set to take place from July 24 through August 9 in Tokyo.
Agence France Presse reported that a spokesman for the IOC said the goal of the conference call was to “keep international federations informed, as well as National Olympic Committees and athletes” and that the IOC “conducts regular dialogue with all Olympic partners and informs them regularly of the situation.” The call is also meant to be an opportunity for the various federations to ask questions of the IOC.
On Thursday, Bach said that the IOC would follow the recommendations of World Health Organization (WHO) about a possible postponement. He acknowledged that the recent cancellation of a large number of qualifying events posed “serious problems.” The subject is expected to be at the center of tomorrow’s phone call. At the beginning of March, Bach had encouraged athletes to continue to prepare, stating that the IOC would show “flexibility” around qualifications for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Last Friday, meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that the Games would go ahead as planned, despite concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. One thing that apparently is not being considered is holding the games without spectators.
The IOC followed up with AFP saying, “At 19 weeks [from the Opening Ceremony on July 24] the numerous measures taken by the authorities around the world give us confidence and allow us to remain determined to organize the Olympic Games capable of bringing the whole world together in peace.” The IOC said it was “proud of the solidarity and flexibility” shown by athletes, international federations and the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in the face of “challenges concerning the qualifications in many sports.”
It really hurts to read that minister’s words about still sticking to the plan. I’m sure he is well aware of what the entire world is facing at the moment, but still worrying about financial benefits, over the lives of thousands of people. PATHETIC
i know somebody who’s already made the tokyo team. i’m very partial to postponing it, but am unsure whether i’m alone in that thought
Bach Flower Remedy .
Postpone it. Swimmers currently are unable to practice and train.
Postpone it…current swimmers can’t even practice anywhere.
It’s OK to cancel the Games for this. They had to cancel back in WWII. After the war, athletics started right where it left off.
They should definitely postpone by a significant amount, even just wait for summer of 2021. Too many variables and unknowns out there to even come close to providing a safe atmosphere for athletes, coaches, officials, media, support staff, Opening/closing ceremony, etc. Not to mention the massive interruptions to training across all sports and the disruptions to all of the various selection process for teams.
@Dan I agree. The Olympic committee stated if they postponed it would have to be during the calendar year due to future worlds contracts but that just doesn’t seem feasible to me. It also seems riveting to cancel it altogether. A one year postponement would be ideal. That way you’re not making the athletes wait 4 more years. And you’re also not dealing with the stress of whether or not the crisis will end in time.
I think we may just end up waiting until 2024. We’re looking at vaccines in spring 2021 in the best case scenario. If this plays out how modelling predicts, the world is not going to be ready in 2021. This is the kind of event that historians will look back at and say ‘that changed the world’, things like that are said too often, but it is realistic in this instance.
Contract states it has to be held this calendar year.
It is very possible they might hold it in late August to early September during the time the Paralympics are scheduled to take place. That and holding it without would be the best compromise to avoid screwing the athletes and TOGOC the two entities that have the most at stake. A total cancellation would be devastating in many ways.
British Swimming will be announcing news about British Championships tomorrow morning. Anticipating a total cancellation personally.