WHEN SPORTS CAME BACK Sports rep: Olympics will be held
Keeping an eye on the world of sports during the pandemic:
The IOC is adamant the Tokyo Olympics will be held this year despite the pandemic. So, too, are Japanese organizers.
Now hear it from the man who represents the track and field, swimming and gymnastics federations as well as every other Summer Games sport.
“At the moment, we’re positive that the games will be held,” said Francesco Ricci Bitti, president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.
“They will be different games. But we, the federations, are open to accepting these changes,” Ricci Bitti told The AP this week. “They will be spartan games, with all of the usual services reduced.”
Japanese authorities and the IOC moved quickly last week to dismiss a report by The Times of London that quoted an anonymous government official claiming it has been concluded the games will be canceled.
“Right now there is no alternative option,” Ricci Bitti said. “As (IOC president Thomas) Bach said, a Plan B doesn’t exist. Everything else is pure speculation. Whoever talks about that is doing harm, because it creates confusion.”
The Tokyo Games were initially slated for 2020 but were postponed for a year last March shortly before the torch relay was due to start.
Ricci Bitti said not to read too much into March being a key month for a decision this year.
“For now there’s no need to decide anything,” he said. “And we hope that a decision won’t be needed. Because everything is ready. … We’re going sport by sport to set up new antiCOVID measures.”
So are all 33 sports federations — from archery to wrestling — moving forward with their planning?
“All of them,” Ricci Bitti said Tuesday, a day after the federations’ latest meeting. “It’s unanimous. They want the games.”
Japan has more than 5,000 deaths attributed to COVID19 and its health care system is under stress. A vaccine rollout is expected next month, but later in the year for much of the general public.
“It was entertaining hockey, but it was a little sloppy. And that’s to be expected.”