Tokyo Olympics chief fears outbreak may halt Games

THE chief executive of the Tokyo Olympics has admitted he is “seriously worried” about the threat posed by coronavirus to the games this summer.

Health authorities are facing a race to reassure organisers as many athletes, including Team GB, are due to fly out to training camps within five months.

Japan – which has already recorded over 20 people with the virus – is among the worst hit outside China, where 490 have died. Toshiro Muto, chief executive of the Tokyo Organising Committee, says he hopes the virus can be “eradicated as quickly as possible”.

“I am seriously worried that the spread of the disease could throw cold water on the momentum towards the Games,” he told a meeting with officials of the International Paralympic Committee. “I hope that it will be stamped out as soon as possible.” The World

Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak a global health emergency but said it did not yet constitute a “pandemic”.

Government officials, including Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, along with the International Olympic Committee, have publicly said they are confident the Games will go ahead. Preparation camp opens for Team GB on July 6 and a spokeswoman for the British Olympic Association said the situation was being monitored. “There is no higher priority than the safety and health of our athletes,” she said.

However, Saburo Kawabuchi, the mayor of the athletes’ village where 11,000 Olympians will stay, has expressed apprehension. “I truly hope that the infectious disease will die down,” he said. “In the worst case, we will do our utmost for the athletes so that they will be able to concentrate on performing their best.”