So far, the Covid-19 has only hit sporting events on the other side of the world. The coronavirus has canceled an F1 Grand Prix in China, postponed for a year the World Athletics Championships in Nanjing, postponed Olympic qualification tournaments on other continents. This Monday, the kickoff of the football championships in China (the "Chinese Super League") and in South Korea (the K-League) scheduled for the weekend were postponed without a new launch date being planned for the moment.
Until proven otherwise, there is no threat to the smooth running of the Tokyo Olympic Games (July 24-August 9). Publicly, the organizing committee tells us that "preparations are continuing as planned". And adds: "Adopting measures to fight infectious diseases is an important part of Tokyo 2020 plans to host safe and secure Games. Tokyo 2020 will continue to collaborate with relevant organizations that closely monitor infectious disease cases and will review, with those organizations, any control measures that may be necessary. Furthermore, the IOC is in contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) and its own medical experts. We have full confidence in the competent authorities, in particular in Japan and China, and are confident that they will take all necessary measures to deal with the situation. "
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A source close to the committee, however, told the British news agency Reuters on Monday "his panic" at the scale of the epidemic continuing on condition of anonymity: "In my opinion, unless the health situation s 'improves by then, which would be extraordinary, there are nine chances out of ten that we must indeed postpone these Games. "
If so, a candidate for mayor of London has already conveniently offered the services of the English capital. Meanwhile in Tokyo, it is the volunteer training courses that are postponed. And this Tuesday, the kickoff of the Japanese national football championship was postponed in turn.
Italian championship wants to play behind closed doors
Put under cover, Italian sport is the first affected in Europe. After the cancellations on February 22 and 23 in the Calcio but also of the national basketball and volleyball championships, and even the tennis finals, Italy is preparing for a new wave of postponements in the coming days.
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Short-term measures are already being taken. On Monday evening, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) Gabriele Gravina announced that he had asked the authorities to allow all the next Calcio matches to be played behind closed doors on Saturday and Sunday, as well as the Inter Milan-Ludogorets match in Europa League. Already in Series A, the Udinese-Fiorentina match is postponed. Ditto for meetings of Pro 14, the rugby championship which brings together British, Italian and South African teams.
The Euroleague basketball game between Kaunas and Milan scheduled for Thursday is threatened as the Euro 2021 qualifying match between Italy and Macedonia the same evening. Scheduled for Wednesday, two Euroleague women's basketball games scheduled to be played in Italy have been postponed to Thursday and relocated to Slovenia. In the medium term, cycling is thrilling. The threats of cancellation of the next prestigious races like Milan-San Remo, Tirreno-Adriatico, even the Tour of Italy planned between March and May seem very real.
And in France ?
For the moment, no threat of postponement hangs over any sport or any event organized on the territory. Questions nevertheless arise around the Champions League match Wednesday between Lyon and Juventus. The mayors (LR) of Meyzieu and Décines-Charpieu, where the Olympique Lyonnais stadium is to host the match, asked the authorities on Tuesday to ban the arrival of nearly 3,000 Juve supporters, "at name of the precautionary principle ”.
"The CNOSF (French Olympic Committee) follows with great attention the evolution of the coronavirus in Japan but also in Europe and on French territory, said the national Olympic committee in the evening. The sports movement alone cannot assess and decide to cancel competitions without information and analysis from the specialist services. "
The various federations, if they must act, are awaiting instructions from the state authorities to take the appropriate measures when the time comes. “The CNOSF, continues the Olympic Committee, is in constant contact with the management of all the federations and remains very attentive to the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Health and that of sports concerning French territory. As well as those of the IOC and WHO concerning the Tokyo Games. "