IOC President Bach ‘considering different scenarios’ for Olympics

A member of the Japanese Olympic Committee said Thursday the International Olympic Committee is “putting athletes at risk” by continuing to plan on the Tokyo Games unfolding as scheduled, despite the global coronavirus pandemic.

Kaori Yamaguchi, a bronze medalist in judo at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, became the first executive committee board member from this year’s host nation to break with the IOC, per reports, in calling for a postponement.

“As far as I can tell from news reports coming out of the U.S. and Europe, I don’t think the situation allows for athletes to continue training as usual,” Yamaguchi said.

IOC President Thomas Bach stuck firm Thursday to his stance that, as of now, the Tokyo Olympics will take place from late July through early August.

“Of course we are considering different scenarios,” Bach said, “but we are contrary to many other sports organizations or professional leagues in that we are four and a half months away from the Games.”

“The 206 national Olympic committees and the international sports federations expressed that the world in this extremely difficult and concerning situation needs a symbol of hope,”Bach added.“So for us, while not knowing how long this tunnel will be, we would like the Olympic flame to be a light at the end of the tunnel, and to send the message of peace, what we always do, but in this very difficult circumstances a message of hope and community of humankind.”

Some would-be Olympic athletes, though, are wondering how responsible it is for the IOC to hold tight to its schedule when coronavirus-related fears and official restrictions in many countries make training difficult, if not dangerous.