Tokyo denies cancellation rumours
Mori says he’s ‘totally not considering this’
TOKYO: The president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics organising committee yesterday rebuffed speculation that the Games might be cancelled due to deepening concern about the coronavirus outbreak, declaring that was not an option.
“I am totally not considering this,” Yoshiro Mori told reporters at a briefing when asked about a possible cancellation.
Asked when the organisers could decide on changes to the Olympics, he said: “I’m not God so I don’t know.”
He also said he was happy to hear International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach saying he was confident the Tokyo Olympics would be held on schedule.
Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto also voiced confidence the tournament would begin on July 24 during a call with the IOC executive board.
The Tokyo Olympics organising committee informed the IOC of its plans to cope with conditions related to the Covid-19 outbreak during the torch relay starting from March 26.
Speaking with the IOC executive board via teleconference from Tokyo to discuss preparations for the Games, Muto said: “I want to carry out this [torch relay] by taking necessary measures after thorough discussion with local governments.”
The Tokyo 2020 organisers said they will confer with prefectural authorities at least a week in advance of the relay’s arrival in order to decide on specific procedures to be followed there depending on the situation of infections in each location.
Runners and spectators will be asked not to participate if they feel unwell.
Participants will also be asked to thoroughly wash their hands and be considerate of others when coughing, while alcohol disinfectants will be placed at ceremonies.
Torch runners and staff will have their temperatures monitored and undergo some health checks.
On Tuesday, the IOC said it is confident the Tokyo Games will take place as scheduled.
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said relocating the Olympics is not an option and that the tournament will take place as scheduled from July 24 to Aug 9.
“We would prefer to stick to the advice from the experts and to stick to the advice of those who know and we still see no reason to think other than that we will be going ahead,” Adams told a press conference in Lausanne where the IOC held its executive board meeting.
“We’re not even worrying, thinking about that [relocation] because we’re planning to have the Games on 24 of July.
“All the advice we’re getting is that the Games can and will go ahead.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the IOC executive board encouraged athletes “to prepare for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.”