Olympics officials wrestle with threat of coronavirus
By
Mark Puleo, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Feb 25, 2020 7:00 PM EDT
As the coronavirus spreads well beyond China, there are concerns it could cause the cancellation of the Olympics in Tokyo.
While COVID-19 is feared for its potentially pandemic health threat, its spreading wrath has dealt a blow economically and politically, as well. As the calendar inches closer to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer, the virus may also be threatening some of the world’s most famous athletic competitions.
Although the Olympic torch won’t be reaching Tokyo’s New National Stadium for opening ceremonies until July 24, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already begun pondering the potential for how the coronavirus may impact, relocate or even cancel the 2020 Olympics. In an interview with The Associated Press (AP), IOC member Dick Pound estimated that the committee had about three months to determine the fate of the Olympics.
The AP noted that Pound, the longest-serving member of the IOC, did not sound alarmist. However, his quotes in the exclusive interview did point to the urgency behind the hard questions that officials will have to answer ahead of the games.
In this Jan. 29, 2020, photo, a tourist wearing a mask poses for a photo with the Olympic rings in the background, at Tokyo's Odaiba district. Tokyo Olympic organizers repeated their message at the start of two days of meetings with the IOC: This summer's games will not be canceled or postponed by the coronavirus spreading in neighboring China. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
“This is the new war, and you have to face it,” he said. “In and around that time, I’d say folks are going to have to ask: ‘Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not?’”
On Feb. 19, London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey shared on Twitter an unofficial offer of availability for his city to host the Games if the games were to be relocated.
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"Given the ongoing disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak, I urge the Olympic Committee to seriously consider how London could stand ready to host the Olympics should the need arise," Bailey said in a statement, according to City A.M., a London-based financial newspaper. "We have the infrastructure and the experience, and if I am elected, I will make sure London is ready to host the biggest sporting celebration again, if we are called on in an hour of need."
That proclamation did not go over well with Tokyo's Governor Yuriko Koike or the British Olympic Association. In calling Bailey's offer inappropriate, Koike also addressed the global attention that has connected her country with the virus because of the two Japanese citizens that died aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship that had nearly 700 infected guests and crew members aboard. The country's death toll rose to four after those two fatalities.
"A reason why this issue has attracted global attention is due to the cruise ship. But the cruise ship's nationality belongs to Britain," she said. "I wish aspects like these would be well understood."
Yoshiro Mori, the chief executive of Tokyo 2020, also refuted the "irresponsible rumors" that swirled around relocation.
"With regards to the coronavirus, there are many irresponsible rumors, but I would like to make it clear that we are not considering postponing or canceling the Games," Mori said, according to The Telegraph.
In this Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, photo, people wearing masks sit in front of a countdown clock for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The Tokyo Olympics open in five months on July 24. But the fast-spreading coronavirus from China is making Tokyo organizers very anxious. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
The 2020 Olympic Games will mark the 80th anniversary of the 1940 Games, which were also set to be hosted by Tokyo but were canceled due to the country's ongoing war with China and involvement in World War II.
In Pound's interview with AP, he seemed to confirm that moving the games out of Japan was not a viable option.
"As far as we all know, you're going to be in Tokyo," Pound said, addressing athletes. "All indications are at this stage that it will be business as usual. So keep focused on your sport and be sure that the IOC is not going to send you into a pandemic situation."
On Tuesday, China reported 508 new cases of the virus and another 71 deaths, bringing mainland China's total tallies to 77,658 cases and 2,663 fatalities. In recent days, the virus has spread globally, with fatalities rising in Italy and Iran to go along with countries such as South Korea and Japan that have counted significant numbers of infections.
Officials from the Center of Disease Control (CDC) also said the updated world total for cases had surpassed 80,000 and reached more than 30 countries. The total number of cases in the United States was up to 57 as of Tuesday.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Health
Olympics officials wrestle with threat of coronavirus
By Mark Puleo, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Feb 25, 2020 7:00 PM EDT
As the coronavirus spreads well beyond China, there are concerns it could cause the cancellation of the Olympics in Tokyo.
While COVID-19 is feared for its potentially pandemic health threat, its spreading wrath has dealt a blow economically and politically, as well. As the calendar inches closer to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer, the virus may also be threatening some of the world’s most famous athletic competitions.
Although the Olympic torch won’t be reaching Tokyo’s New National Stadium for opening ceremonies until July 24, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already begun pondering the potential for how the coronavirus may impact, relocate or even cancel the 2020 Olympics. In an interview with The Associated Press (AP), IOC member Dick Pound estimated that the committee had about three months to determine the fate of the Olympics.
The AP noted that Pound, the longest-serving member of the IOC, did not sound alarmist. However, his quotes in the exclusive interview did point to the urgency behind the hard questions that officials will have to answer ahead of the games.
In this Jan. 29, 2020, photo, a tourist wearing a mask poses for a photo with the Olympic rings in the background, at Tokyo's Odaiba district. Tokyo Olympic organizers repeated their message at the start of two days of meetings with the IOC: This summer's games will not be canceled or postponed by the coronavirus spreading in neighboring China. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
“This is the new war, and you have to face it,” he said. “In and around that time, I’d say folks are going to have to ask: ‘Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not?’”
On Feb. 19, London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey shared on Twitter an unofficial offer of availability for his city to host the Games if the games were to be relocated.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
"Given the ongoing disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak, I urge the Olympic Committee to seriously consider how London could stand ready to host the Olympics should the need arise," Bailey said in a statement, according to City A.M., a London-based financial newspaper. "We have the infrastructure and the experience, and if I am elected, I will make sure London is ready to host the biggest sporting celebration again, if we are called on in an hour of need."
That proclamation did not go over well with Tokyo's Governor Yuriko Koike or the British Olympic Association. In calling Bailey's offer inappropriate, Koike also addressed the global attention that has connected her country with the virus because of the two Japanese citizens that died aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship that had nearly 700 infected guests and crew members aboard. The country's death toll rose to four after those two fatalities.
"A reason why this issue has attracted global attention is due to the cruise ship. But the cruise ship's nationality belongs to Britain," she said. "I wish aspects like these would be well understood."
Yoshiro Mori, the chief executive of Tokyo 2020, also refuted the "irresponsible rumors" that swirled around relocation.
"With regards to the coronavirus, there are many irresponsible rumors, but I would like to make it clear that we are not considering postponing or canceling the Games," Mori said, according to The Telegraph.
In this Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, photo, people wearing masks sit in front of a countdown clock for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The Tokyo Olympics open in five months on July 24. But the fast-spreading coronavirus from China is making Tokyo organizers very anxious. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
The 2020 Olympic Games will mark the 80th anniversary of the 1940 Games, which were also set to be hosted by Tokyo but were canceled due to the country's ongoing war with China and involvement in World War II.
In Pound's interview with AP, he seemed to confirm that moving the games out of Japan was not a viable option.
"As far as we all know, you're going to be in Tokyo," Pound said, addressing athletes. "All indications are at this stage that it will be business as usual. So keep focused on your sport and be sure that the IOC is not going to send you into a pandemic situation."
On Tuesday, China reported 508 new cases of the virus and another 71 deaths, bringing mainland China's total tallies to 77,658 cases and 2,663 fatalities. In recent days, the virus has spread globally, with fatalities rising in Italy and Iran to go along with countries such as South Korea and Japan that have counted significant numbers of infections.
Officials from the Center of Disease Control (CDC) also said the updated world total for cases had surpassed 80,000 and reached more than 30 countries. The total number of cases in the United States was up to 57 as of Tuesday.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo