For the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the message is clear: preparations for the Tokyo Games (July 24 to August 9) are continuing. "Just over four months before the opening of these Games, there is no need to take radical decisions and any speculation at this stage would be counterproductive," said the IOC in a press release, while meetings -you with the international federations were scheduled for Tuesday.
The Japanese organizing committee announced the resumption in May of the volunteer training program, which had been interrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic (to date 833 people have been infected in Japan, 28 have died). As the Olympic flame arrives this Friday March 20 in Tokyo from Greece, preparations are continuing. Meetings with the coordination committee and site visits are adapted to the situation.
If the IOC agrees on an “unprecedented situation for the whole world”, it “encourages all athletes to continue to prepare as well as possible for the Olympic Games. As some athletes around the world begin to request the postponement of the competition, the IOC wishes to reassure them. To date, 57% of athletes have already qualified for the Olympic Games. "For the remaining 43% of places, the IOC will work with the international federations to make the necessary practical changes to their qualification systems," said the Olympic committee.
The qualification mode will be simplified
In other words, due to the postponement or cancellation of several international championships and Olympic qualification tournaments (TQO), the qualification mode will be simplified. If it is not possible, for example, to replace certain competitions in the calendars, the allocation of tickets could be done on the basis of rankings or past results. We can therefore imagine a system of “wild cards” for certain prestigious athletes who, in particular due to confinement, could not have taken part in the selection tests.
"An increase in the quota of athletes will be considered on a case-by-case basis in exceptional circumstances, with the assistance of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee", also specifies the IOC which could therefore revise the number of participants in the Olympic Games upwards. "The IOC's decision will not be dictated by financial interests, insists the institution. Because thanks to its risk management policies and assurances, the IOC will in any case be able to continue its operations and fulfill its mission which is to organize the Olympic Games. ”
