'We will do our very best to make sure that you get your Olympic opportunity,' IOC member Dick Pound said as fears of a coronavirus pandemic stoked concerns about the Tokyo2020 Games
MONTREAL - For this year’s Tokyo Olympics to be canceled or postponed over the coronavirus outbreak, the world’s health would have to be at stake, International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound said on Wednesday.
But while Pound feels the coronavirus presents more of a problem to the Tokyo Olympics than the mosquito-borne Zika virus was to the 2016 Rio Games, he sees no reason to start making alternative arrangements at this point. Pound’s comments came on the same day Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for a two-week curb on sports events as two more coronavirus deaths in the country heightened concerns the outbreak might scupper the Tokyo Olympics.A number of international sports events have been hit by the coronavirus, with some competitions being postponed and others canceled outright.
“Especially in North America and Europe because all the college sports are on, football is on, baseball is on,” said Pound. “A lot sports on the air and if you throw in this Olympic tsunami on top of it, it would be very bad.”
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
International Olympic Committee Member Casts Doubt on Postponing Tokyo GamesA senior member of the International Olympic Committee said that if it proves too dangerous to hold the Olympics in Tokyo this summer because of the coronavirus outbreak, organizers are more likely to cancel it altogether than to postpone or move it
Read more »
The Tokyo Olympics Could *Possibly* Be Canceled Because Of Coronavirus But All Everyone Can Talk About Is 'Dick Pound'Dick Pound is back in the news again.
Read more »
Tokyo organizers, IOC going ahead as planned with OlympicsA Japanese government spokesman says organizers are going forward as planned with the Tokyo Olympics a day after an IOC veteran said a viral outbreak could lead to the games being canceled. By StephenWadeAP.
Read more »
Coronavirus could leave only 3 months to decide fate of Tokyo Olympics, IOC member saysThe modern Olympics dating from 1896 have only been cancelled during wartime, and faced boycotts in 1976 in Montreal, in 1980 in Moscow and 1984 in Los Angeles.
Read more »
Japan Rejects Possible Tokyo Olympics Cancellation Amid Coronavirus Threat'We would like to prepare steadily for the event,” Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told parliament.
Read more »