Tokyo (AP) - IOC President Thomas Bach understands that the Tokyo Olympic Games, which have been postponed by one year, would have to be canceled if they could not take place in the summer of 2021 due to the Corona crisis.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had made it clear to him that the next summer was "the last option" for Japan. In addition, the organizers have no plan for a backup. "You can't keep 3000 to 5000 people on an organizing committee forever. You can't allow the athletes to live in uncertainty," said the President of the International Olympic Committee of the English BBC Sport.
Bach (66) admitted that the reorganization of the games was a "mammoth task". Different scenarios would have to be run through, mainly because it cannot be assumed that a vaccine will be available by then. Quarantine may be required for the athletes, for some of the athletes, or for other participants. "If we have a clear idea of what the world will look like on July 23, 2021, we will make the appropriate decisions," said Bach.
And ghost games without a spectator? "This is not what we want. Because the Olympic spirit is also about uniting the fans, and that is what makes the games so unique that they take place in an Olympic stadium with all fans from all over the world together "said the former fencing Olympic champion, who also didn't want to rule it out completely. "There is no blueprint for it, so we have to reinvent the wheel every day. It's very challenging and fascinating at the same time," said Bach.
According to his own statement, the IOC boss was happy that last weekend the Bundesliga started again. "I hope that all other sports will return now," said Bach. On the other hand, he felt a bit for the players, "how strange it must be for them to play in these huge stadiums," said Bach to the ghost games without spectators.
Bach hopes that the return to the Bundesliga was "the first step". Sport had to respect the rules in the Corona crisis like every other organization and every other area of society. "But we can come back slowly and maybe then lift these restrictions responsibly," said the 66-year-old.
Bach appealed to governments around the world to do everything in their power to help the sport cope with the financial crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to the contribution of sport to health, sport is the best glue for society and a very important economic factor, says Bach. "That is why we urge governments to recognize and recognize the role of sport and to include it in their support programs," said Bach.
BBC interview
