Tokyo Olympics will be 'scrapped' if not held in 2021 – Mori

The rescheduled Tokyo Olympics will be "scrapped" if it is not possible to hold the event in 2021, according to Games president Yoshiro Mori.

Thecoronaviruspandemic has already forced organisers to move the Games back by a year so that they now run from July 23 to August 8 next summer.

As the president of Japan's medicalassociation,Yoshitake Yokokura, warned it would be "difficult"tostagetheOlympics safelybeforeavaccineisfound, Mori said they will not be delayed a second time.

"No," he told Nikkan Sports when asked if they could be moved to 2022. "In that case, theOlympicswillbescrapped."

However, Mori expressed faith that the Games will go ahead.

"This Olympics would be much more valuable than any Olympicsinthepastifwecould go ahead with it after winning this battle," he said.

"We have to believe this, otherwise our hard work and efforts will not be rewarded."

Yesterday,Yokokurasaidin a media briefing that a vaccine was the best way to be sure of a safe Olympics.

"Unlessaneffectivevaccine is developed I think it will be difficult to hold the Olympics next year," Yokokura said.

"I'm not saying at this point thattheyshouldn'tbeheld.The outbreak is not only confined to Japan... it's a worldwide issue."

Meanwhile, Philip Hindes is treating the postponement oftheTokyoOlympicsasanopportunity.

Six weeks ago, before the lockdown began and the Games were moved back by 12 months due to the coronavirus pandemic, the two-time Olympic track cyclist champion had accepted his role as first reserve in the team sprint as he fought his way back from a hip injury.

Butnowthe27-year-oldcan see his chance to force his way back in as Jason Kenny, Jack Carlin, Ryan Owens and Joe Truman jostle for places.

"As bad as it sounds, the delay actually helps me," Hindes said.

"Instead of rushing everything for the next few months

I can recover from my injury.

"The other guys will probably disagree. They were in the shapeoftheirlifeandreadyfor Tokyo but for me it's actually good because I can get back up to my best.

"Iactuallythinkit'sgoodfor the whole team. We've been chasing the Dutch down - they wereasecondaheadofusatthe WorldChampionships(inFebruary)andthisgivesusanother year to bridge the gap."