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Corona: Race Against The Clock | Israel today

2020-02-27T08:00:13.276Z


Three cases of virus infection at one of the Olympics sites and cancellations of events in Japan question Tokyo 2020 Athletics


Three cases of virus infection at one of the Olympic Games sites and cancellations of other major events in Japan question the 2020 Tokyo Olympics • The European Football Championship, which is due to launch in Italy in June, faces danger

  • Japanese women against the Tokyo Olympics emblem

    Photo:

    Reuters

"It's too soon to talk about the Corona in the context of the Olympic Games," Japanese Health Minister Katsanovo Kato said last night, but talk has obviously begun.

Dick Pound, a Canadian swimmer and senior member of the Olympic Committee, said this week the cancellation of the game - not just their transfer to another destination or their postponement to another date - should be taken into account as long as the Corona virus continues to spread and threatens the July 24 event. "Around May we will have to ask ourselves. Can we be sure that everything is in control?" Pound added: "There are many things that still need to happen: security, food, the Olympic village, hotels, etc. If the situation is not good in three months, there will be no choice but to cancel."

Japan protester calls for cancellation of Olympic Games // Photo: AFP

Three new contagion cases in Chiba Gymnasium, the place that will host the Tequondo competitions, SIF, wrestling and surfing this summer, have added to the growing concerns with each passing day. As a result, the Japanese Football League, the J. League, was suspended until March 15 for what would be the longest stoppage since the 2011 tsunami.

In addition, a friendship game in Tokyo was canceled between the Japanese rugby team and South Africa, while the mass Tokyo marathon cut from 38,000 participants from all over the world to just 176 elite runners. Equally significant was the two-month postponement of the Olympic Games Volunteers training, which was scheduled to begin on this month.

Wembley Stadium. Scheduled to host the Euro final // Photo: Gettyimages

The Euro is pending

The thing is that before Tokyo 2020, Europe will host Euro 2020, and for the first time will do so across the continent. While the vast majority of the 12 host countries have not yet reached the Corona virus, the situation in Italy also undermines the existence of the soccer tournament as usual. To date, some 300 cases have been recorded in the boot country - most of them in the Veneto and Lombardy ropes - but the effect is nationwide. A large number of sports events have been canceled or postponed, and Series A games will be played in the upcoming cycle without crowds.

Corona has not yet registered in Rome, but since it will host the tournament's opening game and three more during it, there are reasons for concern.

"We are currently waiting. We are examining the situation in each country and listening to the instructions given to us," said Italian Michele Eva, a member of the UEFA professional committee. While it is still too early to know what will happen and things can change, the Corona virus is the big threat right now. Most of the upcoming summer sports around the world.

Source: israelhayom

All sports articles on 2020-02-27

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