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HEALTH-VIRUS-OLY-IOC-JPN
IOC to hold coronavirus crisis talks with sports bodies
LAUSANNE, March 15, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – With less than five months to go
before the Tokyo Olympics, International Olympic Committee President Thomas
Bach plans emergency talks with member organisations, sources close to the
IOC said on Sunday.
The IOC plans a conference call on Tuesday to “keep the international
federations informed of the situation, as well as the National Olympic
Committees and athletes,” one source close to the IOC told AFP.
The IOC “will take stock of the actions taken” to respond to the
coronavirus crisis “and the federations will have the opportunity to ask
questions” added a source close to one international sports federation.
The IOC “conducts a regular dialogue with all the Olympic partners and
regularly informs them of the situation,” added an IOC spokesman.
While many international sporting events have been postponed or cancelled,
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised on Friday that Tokyo would host
the Olympic Games as planned in July and August, despite questions raised by
the pandemic.
Thomas Bach said on Thursday that his organisation would follow the
recommendations of the World Health Organisation regarding a possible
postponement.
He acknowledged, however, that the cancellation of qualifying events due to
the epidemic was already posing “serious problems”.
The issue of qualifying will be a focus of Tuesday’s telephone meeting.
At the beginning of March, Bach said the IOC would show “flexibility”
regarding the qualifications for the Tokyo and encouraged “all athletes to
continue to prepare” for the Games.
BSS/AFP/RY/20:06 hrs