Bach refuses to speculate over threat to Tokyo 2020

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has admitted the coronavirus outbreak has made it a “challenging” time for the movement but refused to speculate over the extent of the threat to Tokyo 2020.

Speaking after the second day of the IOC executive board meeting in Lausanne, Bach insisted: “I can tell you that today... neither the word ‘cancellation’, nor the word ‘postponement’ was even mentioned.

“Of course we are a responsible organisation and this is why we have a jointtask force which is having regular meetings, but we are not speculating on any kind of future developments.”

However, Bach did concede that the ongoing cancellation of a number of Olympic qualification tournaments around the world had led to some logistical and scheduling concerns.

He added: “We have challenges now with qualifications and you know the many measures we have been under-taking.”

“This is challenging, yes, but I must also say I’m pretty proud of the Olympic movement for the great solidarity and flexibility everybody has shown so far to address these challenges.”

British Olympic Association chief executive Andy Anson emphasised preparations for Tokyo 2020 continue despite the developing outbreak.

Anson said a planned preparatory trip to Tokyo, with around 55 people travelling, was still set to go ahead as the BOA received information from “every possible source” in a “rapidly evolving situation”.

Meanwhile Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley still expects the Masters to go ahead as planned next month despite the coronavirus outbreak.

A women’s golf event in Abu Dhabi, which was due to start tomorrow, has been postponed, however, while Italy’s Francesco Laporta has been forced out of this week’s Qatar Masters after being faced with two weeks’ quarantine on arriving in Doha.

Thoma Bach admits the virus has thrown up a number of challenges.