• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
IOC Reviewing Games Scenarios, Cancellation Not Among Them

IOC Reviewing Games Scenarios, Cancellation Not Among Them

March 20, 2020
Nonprofit Funded By Chinese Gov’t-Linked Entities Backs Blue State’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Climate Law

Nonprofit Funded By Chinese Gov’t-Linked Entities Backs Blue State’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Climate Law

May 31, 2025
Why On-And-Off Voters Who Backed Trump May Be GOP’s Midterm Silver Bullet

Why On-And-Off Voters Who Backed Trump May Be GOP’s Midterm Silver Bullet

May 31, 2025
MICHAEL LUCCI: US Multinationals Must Exit China

MICHAEL LUCCI: US Multinationals Must Exit China

May 31, 2025
CASEY RYAN: Loudoun County Is Back In The Election Year Headlines Again

CASEY RYAN: Loudoun County Is Back In The Election Year Headlines Again

May 31, 2025
DAVID BLACKMON: Did Trump And Hochul Just Swap An Offshore Wind Farm For A Pipeline?

DAVID BLACKMON: Did Trump And Hochul Just Swap An Offshore Wind Farm For A Pipeline?

May 31, 2025
Father Of DJ Daniel Gives Heartbreaking Health Update About Son

Father Of DJ Daniel Gives Heartbreaking Health Update About Son

May 30, 2025
Appeals Court Blocks Trump’s Push For Mass Federal Firings

Appeals Court Blocks Trump’s Push For Mass Federal Firings

May 30, 2025
Musk Leaves DOGE With a Black Eye — Literally 

Musk Leaves DOGE With a Black Eye — Literally 

May 30, 2025
Campaign Board Fines Cuomo $675,000 While Awarding Millions To Opponent

Campaign Board Fines Cuomo $675,000 While Awarding Millions To Opponent

May 30, 2025
Dem Claim That Trump Tariffs Would Cause Prices To ‘Soar’ Crumbles Due To Positive Economic News

Dem Claim That Trump Tariffs Would Cause Prices To ‘Soar’ Crumbles Due To Positive Economic News

May 30, 2025
‘Highly Partisan Person’: Trump Sends National Portrait Gallery Director Packing

‘Highly Partisan Person’: Trump Sends National Portrait Gallery Director Packing

May 30, 2025
Jasmine Crockett Tries To Describe Democrats’ ‘Playbook’ On The Fly. It Doesn’t Go Well

Jasmine Crockett Tries To Describe Democrats’ ‘Playbook’ On The Fly. It Doesn’t Go Well

May 30, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Sunday, June 1, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home News

IOC Reviewing Games Scenarios, Cancellation Not Among Them

by Reuters
March 20, 2020 at 7:27 am
in News
250 2
0
IOC Reviewing Games Scenarios, Cancellation Not Among Them

Denis Balibouse/Reuters

491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The International Olympic Committee is considering various scenarios for the Tokyo Games amid the coronavirus pandemic but cancellation is not one of them, IOC President Thomas Bach has told the New York Times.

Organizers of the world’s biggest multi-sports event have repeatedly said the Games would start on July 24 as scheduled, even as the rapid spread of the flu-like virus has brought sporting events around the globe to a standstill.

The coronavirus, which emerged in China late last year, has killed more than 10,000 people worldwide, sparking fears that the Olympics might be postponed or canceled.

Bach, however, said the IOC was not even considering scrapping the Games.

“The cancellation is not on the agenda. We are committed to the success of these Games,” he said.

An IOC task force, which included the World Health Organization, had determined it was too early to make a decision on how to manage the impact from the pandemic on the Olympics.

“We don’t know what the situation will be,” he said.

“Of course we are considering different scenarios, but we are contrary to many other sports organizations or professional leagues in that we are four and a half months away from the Games.

“What makes this crisis so unique and so difficult to overcome is the uncertainty. Nobody today can tell you what the developments are tomorrow, what they are in one month, not to mention in more than four months.”

Japan is expected to welcome 600,000 overseas spectators and athletes to the event, which has seen sponsors pump in billions of dollars and at least $12 billion spent on preparations.

Bach said the final decision on the Games would not be determined by financial interests. Protecting the health of everyone involved and containing the virus were the main objectives, he added.

“Thanks to our risk management policies that have been in place for four years and our insurance, the IOC in any case will be able to continue operations and continue to accomplish our mission,” he said.

“The 206 national Olympic committees and the international sports federations expressed that the world in this extremely difficult and concerning situation needs a symbol of hope.

“So for us, while not knowing how long this tunnel will be, we would like the Olympic flame to be a light at the end of the tunnel …”

In recent days several athletes, including reigning Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi, accused the IOC of putting athletes’ health at risk by urging them to continue to train while many countries are in lockdown mode.

Bach, a former Olympic gold medalist in fencing, said he sympathized with the athletes.

“For an athlete, the worst thing for preparation is the uncertainty that distracts from training and preparations,” he said. “I told the 220 athletes in the phone call Wednesday that we cannot pretend we have answers to all your questions.

“We are in the same situation as you and the rest of the world. It is a unique exceptional situation, which requires exceptional solutions.”

(Writing by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Share196Tweet123
Reuters

Reuters

Reuters is an international news organization.

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th