IOC chief Bach says any determination on Tokyo 2020 will likely be primarily based on skilled recommendation. PHOTO: FILE
WASHINGTON: Worldwide Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach mentioned it could be “premature” to postpone the Tokyo Video games Thursday however admitted the physique was “considering different scenarios” because the coronavirus pandemic advances.
The IOC will act on recommendation from its personal taskforce and the World Well being Group, Bach informed the New York Occasions, after every week when the IOC has weathered criticism over its response to the disaster.
However he remained optimistic about holding the Tokyo Olympics on schedule from July 24 to August 9, and mentioned there was no query of canceling the Video games altogether.
“Of course we are considering different scenarios, but we are contrary to many other sports organisations or professional leagues in that we are four-and-a-half months away from the Games,” Bach mentioned.
“For us, (postponement) would not be responsible now and it would be premature to start speculation or make a decision at a time when we do not have any recommendation from the task force,” he added.
Hypothesis has been rising over the Video games, scheduled to begin on July 24, after the COVID-19 outbreak closed sports activities competitions all over the world, and paralysed many international locations together with worldwide journey.
Olympic qualifiers are among the many tournaments affected, with 43 % of athletes but to ebook their spots. However Bach mentioned the scenario was nonetheless too unsure to decide about Tokyo.
“What makes this crisis so unique and so difficult to overcome is the uncertainty. Nobody today can tell you what the developments are tomorrow, what they are in one month, not to mention in more than four months,” he mentioned.
“Therefore it would not be responsible in any way to set a date or take a decision right now, which would be based on the speculation about future developments.”
Athletes lashed out at IOC recommendation this week to proceed coaching “as best they can”, with Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi accusing the physique of “putting us in danger”.
