Olympics update: IOC remains fully committed to 2020 Tokyo Games, despite coronavirus concerns
Michelle R. Martinelli
March 3, 2020 9:45 am
With the upcoming Summer Olympics less than five months away, International Olympic Committee senior member Dick Pound some doubt on whether or not the 2020 Tokyo Games will take place as planned when they’re normally a foregone conclusion.

As a result of the global outbreak of the coronavirus, if the IOC decides to cancel the Olympics, the decision would likely be made by late May, about two months before the Opening Ceremony, Pound said in an interview with the Associated Press. He also said postponement isn’t really a viable option. So depending on officials’ answer to his question — “‘Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not?'” — the only alternative may be to cancel the Games.

However, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board, in a statement Tuesday, “expressed its full commitment to the success of the Olympic Games” occurring as scheduled this summer in Tokyo from July 24 through August 9.

It also encouraged athletes to continue training and preparing for the Games as usual.

More from the IOC’s statement:

The IOC EB heard a report on all the measures taken so far to address the coronavirus situation, which was followed by a comprehensive discussion.

A joint task force had already been created in mid-February, involving the IOC, Tokyo 2020, the host city of Tokyo, the government of Japan and the World Health Organization (WHO). The IOC EB appreciates and supports the measures being taken, which constitute an important part of Tokyo’s plans to host safe and secure Games.

The IOC will continue to follow the advice of WHO, as the leading United Nations agency on this topic.

The modern Olympics have never been canceled because of health concerns, like the coronavirus — although they have been canceled five times in the past because of World War I and II. However, if the Games carry on as scheduled but athletes are still worried, some may opt not to compete, like a handful did for the 2016 Rio Olympics because of Zika virus concerns.
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/03/olympi ... date-tokyo

IOC rules out staging Tokyo Olympic Games behind closed doors
Exclusive by Sean Ingle
Last modified on Tue 17 Mar 2020 00.30 GMT
The International Olympic Committee has ruled out staging the Tokyo Games behind closed doors because insiders say that would be anathema to the philosophy of a movement that seeks to bring people across the globe together in celebration of sport.

Almost every major sport has shut down because of Covid-19 but the IOC and the Tokyo Organising Committee continue to maintain in public and private that the Games will go ahead in July. An IOC executive board meeting will take place on Tuesday but it is understood a postponement is not on the agenda.

While the IOC’s approach has drawn criticism, those with knowledge of the situation say it wants to give athletes every chance to compete in Tokyo and believes there is no need to make a quick decision regarding postponement given the opening ceremony is four months away.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/ ... osed-doors

Interesting read on what is going on behind the scenes of the Olympic Games.

Tokyo 2020: Why is Olympic decision taking so long?
By Laura Scott, Dan Roan and Alex Capstick
BBC Sport
Even the Olympics is not immune. It now seems almost certain that Tokyo 2020 will be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world.

But as the IOC gives itself another four weeks to mull over a delay, what forces are at play behind the biggest peacetime decision world sport has ever seen? Why do they need so long to do what most now see as the only option? And what will the fallout be?

On Tuesday afternoon, the British Olympic Association (BOA) will add their voice to those demanding a postponement, following an emergency conference call with UK Sport, performance directors, and representatives of TeamGB athletes.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/52007137

Olympics official says he is not certain Tokyo Games will go ahead
IOC’s Dick Pound voices concern after host city declared state of emergency due to third wave of coronavirus
Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Fri 8 Jan 2021 09.13 GMT

Dick Pound, a senior member of the International Olympic Committee, has said he “can’t be certain” that the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games will go ahead this summer, as a coronavirus state of emergency was declared in the host city.

Asked about the prospects that the Games will open on 23 July, the Canadian told the BBC: “I can’t be certain because the ongoing elephant in the room would be the surges in the virus.”

Organisers and the IOC president, Thomas Bach, have insisted the Olympics, which were postponed by a year due to the pandemic, will go ahead, and have agreed it will not be possible to delay them a second time.

Tokyo, however, is at the centre of a third wave of infections that has struck Japan in recent weeks, prompting the prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, to declare a month-long state of emergency in the capital and three neighbouring prefectures.

The measures, which are not enforceable by law, went into effect on Friday but experts have warned they may have to stay in place beyond February to have any effect.

Tokyo reported a record 2,447 cases on Thursday, a 50% increase from the previous day – while the number of infections across Japan rose above 7,500, also an all-time high.

Although Japan has fared better than many other countries – with 3,900 Covid-19 deaths in a country of 126 million – it is not expected to begin vaccinating frontline health workers until the end of February at the earliest, with older and other vulnerable people following in March.

A requirement to conduct domestic clinical trials and a history of vaccine hesitancy among the public mean authorities will have very little time to immunise a significant number of people by the time the Games open in just over six months’ time.

Concern that visiting athletes, fans and officials could spark a fresh outbreak and rising costs attributed to the delay have combined to turn public opinion against the Games. A recent poll by the public broadcaster NHK found 63% of Japanese people supported another postponement or cancellation.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/ ... oronavirus

Japanese government insists Olympics still on track
3hr ago
Japan’s deputy chief cabinet secretary Manabu Sakai has told reporters on Friday that there is “no truth” to reports about the possible cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics.
The Japanese government is carrying out “thorough countermeasures” in order to be able to hold the games, Reuters reported.
- The Guardian/Reuters

Olympic organisers to ban singing in silent Tokyo Games
Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Wed 3 Feb 2021 12.46 GMT
The organisers of the 2020 Olympics are planning a silent Games in Tokyo, with bans on singing and chanting among a list of restrictions officials say will protect athletes, staff and the public from coronavirus.

The IOC’s first “Covid playbook”, published on Wednesday, is aimed at sports federations and technical officials, but similar measures designed to prevent the Games from becoming a superspreader event are expected to apply to athletes – and possibly spectators – when the Olympics open on 23 July.

The playbook says visitors should “support athletes by clapping and not singing or chanting”, while athletes will be subject to testing a minimum of once every four days while they are in Tokyo. All visitors will be required to present proof of a recent negative test upon arrival in Japan, but vaccination will not be a condition of participating in the Games, which were postponed for a year last March as the pandemic began its spread across the globe.

Athletes and officials will not be permitted to use public transport without permission, must also wear face masks when appropriate, and practice social distancing. Exceptions will be made for when athletes are eating, sleeping or outside.

Despite speculation the postponed Games could be called off as a result of the pandemic, the IOC’s executive director, Christophe Dubi, said he was confident the guidelines would ensure the safety of everyone involved. “The health and safety of everyone at the Olympic and Paralympic Games are our top priority,” he said. “We each have our part to play. That’s why these playbooks have been created – with the rules that will make each and every one of us a sound, safe and active contributor to the Games.”
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/ ... s-playbook