WHO hopes Tokyo Games can go ahead

Many decisions can only be last-minute

GENEVA • The World Health Organization hopes the Olympics can go ahead in Japan this summer, its emergencies chief said on Friday, saying many of the decisions on the format of the games can only be made last-minute due to evolving risks from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Japan on Friday extended a state of emergency in Tokyo and three other areas until the end of May to stem a surge in coronavirus cases, but Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reiterated that it was still possible to host the Tokyo Olympics this summer.

Extending the state of emergency to May 31, from May 11, will leave a margin of less than two months before the July 23 start of the Games, which were postponed last year.

“It is our hope that the Olympics can occur,” WHO emergencies chief Mike Ryan told a briefing, noting a levelling off of the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests in the country.

He said authorities have applied a “very systematic, risk-managed approach” to preparations and described Tokyo as “highly competent” to make decisions on how to stage the Games, while avoiding social mixing that would spread the coronavirus.

Some decisions, such as on the number of spectators, could only be made just before the opening on the basis of the evolving COVID-19 case numbers, Ryan added. Japan has already said international spectators will be barred and that it could hold the event without any spectators.

GYMNASTICS CANADA PULLS OUT OF PAN-AM CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BRAZIL

Gymnastics Canada said on Friday they have decided not to enter teams in the Pan American Championships being held in Brazil due to health and safety concerns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The June 4-13 event in Rio de Janeiro was Canada’s lastchance qualifier event for the Tokyo Olympics in men’s artistic, women’s artistic, and rhythmic gymnastics.

“We realize the impact these decisions have on our athletes, especially those senior athletes that have dedicated so many years to their ambition of competing at the Olympic Games,” Gymnastics Canada chief executive Ian Moss said in a statement.

Canada had the opportunity to qualify one more athlete in men’s and women’s artistic, respectively, and one individual and one group in rhythmic gymnastics at the competition.

The event was also a qualifier for trampoline gymnastics, but there is one more chance to qualify for that discipline at a World Cup competition to be held in Italy in the coming weeks.