Report: IOC 'considering different scenarios' for Tokyo Olympics

Published Mar 20, 2020

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TOKYO – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is

"considering different scenarios" for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games,

the New York Times reported on Thursday, as the coronavirus pandemic

has created uncertainty over holding the events as planned.

"Of course, we are considering difference scenarios," IOC president

Thomas Bach said in an interview with the paper.

The IOC has been criticized for pressing on with preparations for the

Tokyo Games, which are scheduled to begin July 24, despite the global

coronavirus pandemic which has infected more than 200,000 people.

Apart from fears of contracting the virus, athletes and officials

believe that lockdowns in some parts of the world and ongoing

training in others would lead to unfair competition in what is a

career highlight for every athlete.

The IOC admitted that "a solution with the least negative impact for

the athletes" was being sought and Bach said Wednesday's conference

call with athletes was "very constructive and gave us a lot of

insight."

On Friday, the Olympic Flame arrived in northern Japan, with a toned

down torch relay to start March 26 in Fukushima, the site of the

country's worst nuclear disaster, which was caused by a powerful

earthquake and ensuing tsunami in March 2011.

dpa

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coronavirus