Amid cancellation talk, IOC focused on hosting’ Olympics

IOC President Thomas Bach and local organizers are pushing back against reports that the postponed Tokyo Olympics will be canceled.

Now set to open July 23, the Tokyo Games were postponed 10 months ago at the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, and now the event appears threatened again.

The Times of London, citing unidentified government sources, reported that the games will have to be canceled. It quoted an unidentified senior member of the ruling government coalition.

“No one wants to be the first to say so but the consensus is that it’s too difficult,” the source said. “Personally, I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

In a statement Jan. 22, the local organizing committee did not address directly The Times story, but said the Olympics were going forward and had the support of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

NHL

LIGHTNING TOP BLUE Brayden Point

JACKETS» scored 1:56 into overtime, and the Lightning beat the Blue Jackets, 3-2, for their third straight win to begin the season. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and Joonas Korpisalo traded great saves in extra time before Point tapped in a pass from Victor Hedman.

NFL

HASKINS TO STEELERS » Dwayne Haskins will attempt to kick-start his career with the Steelers. The Steelers signed the former Washington quarterback to a futures contract, giving the 23-year-old a second chance after he flamed out in the nation’s capital in less than two seasons.

College football

ALABAMA HIRES O’BRIEN » National champion Alabama has hired former Texans head coach Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. O’Brien is replacing Steve Sarkisian, who left to become head coach of the Texas Longhorns after the national championship game.