CoronaVirus threatens to postpone 2020 olympics held in Tokyo
By Robert Rios
El Rodeo Staff Writer
El Rodeo Staff Writer
As the coronavirus continues to spread across Europe, Asia and now some parts of the United States, it now leaves the 2020 Olympics that are being held in Tokyo Japan in jeopardy of being postponed or canceled.
So far it has been reported by at least 70 countries that they have encountered at least one case of the virus since it was first detected in Wuhan, China, last December.
In response to a question during Japan’s Parliament regarding the Olympics, Seiko Hashimoto said, “ We are doing all we can to ensure that the Games go ahead as planned.”
Hashimoto said, “It calls for the Games to be held within 2020", which is about a contract Tokyo signed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC has the right to cancel the Olympic games under the agreements made in the contract.
The president of the IOC Thomas Bach said, “I would like to encourage all the athletes to continue their preparations with great confidence and full steam.”
Speaking at an IOC executive board meeting, Bach said, “I can tell you that today… neither the word ‘cancellation’ nor the word ‘postponement’ was even mentioned.”
He added, “This is challenging, yes, but I must also say I’m pretty proud of the Olympic movement for the great solidarity and flexibility everybody has shown so far to address these challenges.”
In an interview with “The Guardian” Olympic great Ian Thorpe has urged his fellow Australian athletes to consider their long term health before choosing to compete in the Olympic games. Thorpe said, “I would most definitely be concerned.”
He added, “What we need to know is to use some of the best expert disease specialists to find out what is the risk to the team. What is the risk to the other nations and how can we have an Olympic Games, one that is safe, that doesn’t put athletes at risk?”
As of now, The Olympic games are still due to be held from July 24th to the 9th of August and the IOC is committed to not delay or cancel the games and go on as scheduled.
So far it has been reported by at least 70 countries that they have encountered at least one case of the virus since it was first detected in Wuhan, China, last December.
In response to a question during Japan’s Parliament regarding the Olympics, Seiko Hashimoto said, “ We are doing all we can to ensure that the Games go ahead as planned.”
Hashimoto said, “It calls for the Games to be held within 2020", which is about a contract Tokyo signed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC has the right to cancel the Olympic games under the agreements made in the contract.
The president of the IOC Thomas Bach said, “I would like to encourage all the athletes to continue their preparations with great confidence and full steam.”
Speaking at an IOC executive board meeting, Bach said, “I can tell you that today… neither the word ‘cancellation’ nor the word ‘postponement’ was even mentioned.”
He added, “This is challenging, yes, but I must also say I’m pretty proud of the Olympic movement for the great solidarity and flexibility everybody has shown so far to address these challenges.”
In an interview with “The Guardian” Olympic great Ian Thorpe has urged his fellow Australian athletes to consider their long term health before choosing to compete in the Olympic games. Thorpe said, “I would most definitely be concerned.”
He added, “What we need to know is to use some of the best expert disease specialists to find out what is the risk to the team. What is the risk to the other nations and how can we have an Olympic Games, one that is safe, that doesn’t put athletes at risk?”
As of now, The Olympic games are still due to be held from July 24th to the 9th of August and the IOC is committed to not delay or cancel the games and go on as scheduled.