GAMES MAY BE ON HOLD
OLYMPIC chiefs admitted for the first time last night the Tokyo Games could be postponed – but promised they would not be cancelled.
Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, revealed he had written to athletes confirming a decision to delay sport’s greatest show was under consideration in the face of the coronavirus crisis. “Human lives take precedence over everything, including the staging of the Games,” he said. “The IOC wants to be part of the solution.
“Therefore we have made it our leading principle to safeguard the health of everyone and to contribute to containing the virus.”
Bach said the IOC’s “scenario planning” would be completed within four weeks and insisted “cancellation is not on the agenda” – despite Olympic legend Carl Lewis demanding the Games be postponed for TWO years.
Sir Hugh Robertson, chairman of the British Olympic Association, welcomed the IOC move.
But he added: “We urge rapid decision-making for the sake of athletes who still face significant uncertainty. It does not seem appropriate to continue on the present course towards the Olympic Games.”
Last night’s news followed an impassioned plea from UK Athletics boss Nic Coward for the Olympics to be postponed in order to remove the “intense” mental strain.
And Germany’s world champion fencer Max Hartung insists he will boycott the Games if they go ahead in July.
He said: “I can no longer justify competing in July. Everyone has to play their part in stopping the spread of the virus.”