TOKYO, Feb 22, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Tokyo 2020 Olympic organisers on Saturday
postponed training for their army of volunteers due to the coronavirus
outbreak but reiterated that there was “no consideration” of cancelling the
Games.
In a press release published in the early hours of Saturday morning, Tokyo
2020 said: “As part of efforts to prevent the spread of infection of the
novel coronavirus, we have decided to postpone training scheduled from
tomorrow (February 22).”
They said volunteers would be informed individually of the rescheduled
dates and insisted the postponement would have no impact on the preparations
for the Games, due to start on July 24.
“We will evaluate the immediate need for each Games-related event on a
case-by-case basis,” organisers said, adding that participants at Tokyo 2020
events would be asked to take preventative measures to stop the spread of the
disease.
Organisers have been at pains to stress there is no question of cancelling
or postponing Tokyo 2020 despite mounting fears over the potentially deadly
virus spreading fast around the globe.
There are around 100 cases in Japan — with three deaths — and more than
600 positive cases found aboard a cruise ship moored in Yokohama near Tokyo.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike announced on Friday that she would postpone or
cancel all indoor events or outdoor events involving food hosted by her
organisation.
But she hit back at a proposal from a candidate in London’s mayoral
election that the British capital could step in as hosts if needed.
“I think we are not yet reaching that point,” said Koike when asked if
there would be any changes to the Games schedule.
The International Olympic Committee has also said there is no need for a
contingency plan to postpone, cancel or move Tokyo 2020, despite new cases of
the deadly virus emerging daily in Japan.
“I can confirm Tokyo 2020 remains on track,” top IOC official John Coates
said last week in Tokyo, while Games CEO Yoshiro Mori has criticised
“irresponsible rumours” about the Games.
Nevertheless, sporting events have already fallen foul of the virus in
Japan and around the region.
The Tokyo marathon on March 1 has been restricted to elite athletes only,
while a Paralympics test event for boccia was scaled down with international
athletes asked not to attend.
Capital Economics, a financial analyst company, said in a note that “with
the number of confirmed infections of the new coronavirus rising in Japan,
cancellation or postponement of this year’s Tokyo Olympics is becoming a
possibility worth considering”.