The global Coronavirus pandemic has also finally hit the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, as this evening the IOC announced that they will “step up scenario-planning,” which could see “changes to the start date.”
The tournament is meant to begin on July 24, but the pandemic is spreading all over the world and is unlikely to be fully resolved by then.
It was expected that they would announce the postponement of the Olympics, but rather it was opening the door for the first time to the possibility of a delay.
The global Coronavirus pandemic has also finally hit the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, as this evening the IOC announced that they will “step up scenario-planning,” which could see “changes to the start date.”
The tournament is meant to begin on July 24, but the pandemic is spreading all over the world and is unlikely to be fully resolved by then.
It was expected that they would announce the postponement of the Olympics, but rather it was opening the door for the first time to the possibility of a delay.
“To safeguard the health of all involved and to contribute to the containment of COVID-19, the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee today announced that the IOC will step up its scenario-planning for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
“These scenarios relate to modifying existing operational plans for the Games to go ahead on 24 July 2020, and also for changes to the start date of the Games.
“This step will allow better visibility of the rapidly changing development of the health situation around the world and in Japan. It will serve as the basis for the best decision in the interest of the athletes and everyone else involved.
“On the one hand, there are significant improvements in Japan where the people are warmly welcoming the Olympic flame. This could strengthen the IOC’s confidence in the Japanese hosts that the IOC could, with certain safety restrictions, organise Olympic Games in the country whilst respecting its principle of safeguarding the health of everyone involved.
“On the other hand, there is a dramatic increase in cases and new outbreaks of COVID-19 in different countries on different continents. This led the EB to the conclusion that the IOC needs to take the next step in its scenario-planning.”
It’s reported the initial idea would be postponing until November 2020, but there is a four-week period of discussion and consideration before any decision is made.
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