"The IOC is fully committed to holding successful Olympic Games in Tokyo from July 24," said Mr. Bach during a telephone press conference for the Japanese press, according to remarks reported by the Kyodo News agency. "The priority of the moment is to ensure that the qualification processes ( for the Olympics-2020, editor's note ) take place, while ensuring that the protection of the health of athletes is ensured," added the boss of the Olympic movement. . This is what we are doing in cooperation with the Japanese authorities, the World Health Organization, the Chinese Olympic Committee and other national Olympic committees. ”
Another prominent IOC member, Canadian Dick Pound, told AFP earlier that the IOC would not consider postponing or canceling the Tokyo 2020 Olympics until he was invited to do it by WHO. "The IOC and the Tokyo organizers will not cancel, postpone, or do anything about the Games, unless there are very serious and specific warnings or regulations from WHO or competent authorities, "he said. Implying that the IOC will not consider postponing or canceling the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to the coronavirus epidemic until invited to do so by the World health (WHO).
" Unless there is a global crisis ... "
Dick Pound, IOC member"Unless there is a global crisis the severity of which would prevent the Games from taking place or push the authorities to ban travel or something like that, we are moving forward," he said. The first president of the World Anti-Doping Agency says he is nevertheless aware of the shadow that the new coronavirus casts on the organization of the competition, scheduled from July 24 to August 9: "It would be irresponsible to continue to advance without having to mind that something could happen. "
Is there a deadline before which a decision will have to be made regarding the hosting of the Games? "At some point, whether it's two months or a month upstream, someone will have to decide," replied Dick Pound. Much will surely depend on the data we have as we get closer to the deadline. It would be foolish to make a decision hastily without having the necessary information. ”
" Advancing epidemic could dampen interest and enthusiasm for the Games "
John Coates, chairman of its coordinating committeeThe IOC, through the voice of its coordinating committee John Coates, said in mid-February that there was, according to the recommendations received from the WHO, "no reason to plan an emergency plan for the cancellation or postponement of the Games ”. The Japanese organizing committee said it, at the beginning of the month, "extremely worried" insofar as "the advance of the epidemic could temper interest and enthusiasm for the Games".
The coronavirus epidemic has already led to the cancellation or postponement of many sporting events in Japan and around the world. Japan announced on Thursday a new death on its soil, bringing to four the number of dead carrying the virus outside the cruise ship Diamond Princess in quarantine for more than three weeks (700 cases), and to eight the total of deaths. The country has recorded nearly 200 cases on its territory excluding cases noted on the liner. As a preventive measure, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe asked for the temporary closure of public schools in the country from Monday.
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