Tokyo 2020 Olympics And The Coronavirus Scare - What You Should Know

With rapid spread of coronavirus across China and the threat it poses to the neighboring countries and the world at large could be pandemic in the coming days.

 Some Analysts have suggested the postponement or outright suspension of the Tokyo2020 Olympics billed to hold in Japan in a matter of months (July 24. -  August 9)

But the World Health Organisation (WHO) has backed the International Olympic Committee’s assessment that there is no need to cancel or move the Tokyo 2020 Olympics because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Following the conclusion of a two-day project review of Tokyo 2020, John Coates, the head of the IOC’s coordination commission for the event, said: “Certainly the advice we’re received externally from the WHO is that there’s no case for any contingency plans or cancelling the Games or moving the Games.”

Coates said there had been good coordination between task forces appointed by Tokyo 2020, and the Japanese government and the Tokyo Municipal Government: “Pleasingly, there has been very, very good coordination between the two, sharing of information, which is so critical.”

Coates said that most of China’s 600 or so athletes have been preparing for the Olympics and Paralympic Games abroad, and so would not need to be quarantined when they arrive in Japan for the Games: “We hear that most of the Chinese athletes are now out of China. I don’t know how many were to be involved in test events here, but I don’t see a problem if they’re coming from another country.”

He said lessons would be learned from the Rio Olympics four years ago, when concerns over the Zika virus led to several top athletes withdrawing from the Games, including golfers Jason Day and Rory McIlroy. “The WHO pointed out the likelihood of Zika being a problem at the time of the Games was very low.

“But we did lose some athletes – Jason Day’s wife was pregnant. We didn’t communicate the information well enough.”

Coates said communications were key to ensuring Tokyo 2020 stayed on track. “Certainly it’s a very big communications job that needs to be undertaken.

“The IOC is going to ensure (information) kits are sent to all national committees to explain what’s happening around the world where Chinese athletes are competing. But I can confirm Tokyo 2020 remains on track.”

Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshiro Munto added: “We don’t yet know who will be competing at test events so we can’t say anything for sure.

“But we will have information from the qualifiers that are under way and take the necessary steps.”

Asian Water Polo Championships

After Kazakhstan withdrew from hosting the Asian Water Polo Championships this week, the International Swimming Federation said it will use results from the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang to determine the Asian qualifiers for Tokyo 2020 instead. Fina was unable to find a replacement host.

China, Iran, Kazakhstan and South Korea were supposed to contest the men’s event, while China, Japan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Singapore and Uzbekistan were to scheduled compete in the women’s competition.

Maybank Championship, China Golf Open

Two European Tour golf tournaments, the Maybank Championship, scheduled for April 13 to 16 April and the Volvo China Open, due to take place from April 20 to 23, have been postponed. Keith Pelly, the chief executive of the European Tour, said: “We are currently investigating alternative dates for both events.”

Title sponsor Maybank requested the Maybank Championship to be postponed, the European Tour said, whilst the decision to postpone the Volvo China Open was “taken following consultation with tournament stakeholders; the China Golf Association, Genzon Golf Club, Shenzhen Government, title sponsor Volvo and promoters Mitime Golf.”

World Sailing

Two Asian sailing qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics have been moved from Hainan, China to Genoa, Italy. Governing body World Sailing confirmed that the 2020 49erFX Asian Championship and the 2020 Nacra 17 Asian Championship will both be held as part of the Sailing World Cup in Genoa on April 12 to 19.

Artistic Gymnastics World Cup

The Chinese gymnastics team that was to compete in this week’s Artistic Gymnastics World Cup has pulled out of the competition due to Australian travel restrictions. Gymnastics Australia chief executive Kitty Chiller said: “It has been a very challenging few weeks for us all, but none more so than for the Chinese gymnasts and officials who have been training and preparing to come to Melbourne.

“I have been in regular contact with the Chinese Gymnastics Association and its President, who informs me all of their delegation are well and have shown no sign of infection.

“Despite this, we all have to respect the Australian Government’s travel restrictions.”

Among the 12 Chinese athletes to miss out are four-time world champion Zhang Chenglong, who claimed the men’s team gold at the 2012 London Olympics and bronze at the Rio Games.

The World Cup, which runs from February 20 to 23, offers qualifying points for this year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Boxing New Zealand

Boxing New Zealand chairman Keith Walker said disruption caused by the coronavirus is causing “major problems” in funding for Olympic qualification.

A qualifying event for Tokyo 2020, which was to be staged in Wuhan in China, was called off just four days before the Kiwi team was due to travel there from its training camp in Thailand. The qualifiers are now scheduled to take place in Jordan from March 3 to 11.

Walker told local media: “When Wuhan was cancelled we had major problems. We had to fly them back home and not through China, so we had to buy other air tickets for them.”

The cost of flying the Kiwi team back from Thailand and to Jordan could leave the governing body bankrupt, he said: “We won’t have money to spend on anything else this year unless we can get some sponsorship or support.

“We flew up with China Southern and we weren’t allowed to use them coming back because it went through China. We had to buy new tickets with Qantas, which was double the price we anticipated.”