TRUMP WANTS GAMES DELAYED BUT IOC REMAIN DEFIANT
DONALD TRUMP has called for Tokyo 2020 to be postponed by a year — on the same day the Olympic torch was lit in Greece. The US President is the first world leader to encourage a delay to the Games because of coronavirus, arguing it would be better to push back the Olympics than to stage it without fans. Trump said: ‘It’s a shame. They have built some beautiful buildings. But I like that better than I like having empty stadiums all over the place. If you cancel it, make it a year later.’ His remarks came after the torch-lighting ceremony took place without fans in ancient Olympia for the first time in 36 years. The International Olympic Committee then issued a statement reiterating their commitment to holding the Games in July and August, insisting they were addressing challenges regarding qualifying. Tokyo city governor Yuriko Koike said yesterday that cancelling the
Olympics was ‘unthinkable’, but members of Tokyo 2020’s organising committee plan to raise the prospect of postponing the Games at their next board meeting later this month. A British Olympic Association delegation are travelling to Tokyo for a recce this weekend. They said in a statement: ‘There is no higher priority than the safety and health of our athletes.’ Meanwhile, doubts are growing over the opening events of athletics’ Diamond League season. Organisers held a conference call last night and have further talks planned this weekend with all 14 meets, which include London’s Anniversary Games in July. A decision will be made public on Tuesday ahead of the April 17 curtain-raiser in Doha. The Diamond League events are spread across 12 countries but the greatest risk is the back-to-back meets in China on May 9, in a venue yet to be decided, and May 16 in Shanghai, 430 miles from the coronavirus epicentre of Wuhan. The impact of the virus is becoming more pronounced in athletics, with Athletics Kenya suspending all travel to international events for athletes.