Coronavirus: Abe says Olympics may be postponed

Postponing the Tokyo Olympics would be unavoidable if they can not be held in a complete way because of the coronavirus, Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday.

But Abe ruled out cancelling the Games altogether.

His comments in the Japanese parliament came after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it would make a decision on a postponement within four weeks.

They also came as Canada said it would not send athletes to the Games unless they were postponed by 12 months, as Australia told its athletes to prepare for an Olympics next year, and as British officials urged the IOC to make a decision soon.

In a statement, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the country’s paralympic committee “urgently” called on the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to postpone the Games for one year.

“We offer them our full support in helping navigate all the complexities that rescheduling the Games will bring,” the statement said.

“While we recognise the inherent complexities around a postponement, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community.”

The Australian Olympic Committee said in a statement: “Australian athletes should prepare for a Tokyo Olympic Games in the northern summer of 2021.”

It added the Australian team “could not be assembled in the changing circumstances at home and abroad”.

Abe told parliament postponing the Games – due to start on July 24 – may be an option if holding the event in “complete form” became impossible.

“If it is difficult to hold (the Games) in a complete way a decision of postponement would be unavoidable as we think the athletes’ safety is paramount,” he said.

The Olympics have never been postponed or cancelled during peacetime.

Like Abe, the IOC has continued to insist “cancellation is not on the agenda”.

But in response to growing calls for a delay over the Covid-19 pandemic, the IOC now accepts the Games could be moved to a new date.

The IOC’s executive board said it would now step up its “scenario-planning” to look at the different possibilities in what is an ever-changing situation in Japan and globally.

A statement read: “The IOC will, in full coordination and partnership with the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, the Japanese authorities and the Tokyo metropolitan government, start detailed discussions to complete its assessment of the rapid development of the worldwide health situation and its impact on the Olympic Games, including the scenario of postponement.”

It added any decisions to alter the Games can not be taken easily. Changes would impact on the “millions of nights already booked in hotels and the calendars of 33 sports, among many, many more challenges”.

The statement added: “The IOC EB emphasised that a cancellation of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would not solve any of the problems or help anybody. Therefore, cancellation is not on the agenda.”

The IOC’s announcement has been welcomed by sports governing bodies and institutions around the world but the timeframe for any decisions is still likely to affect athletes’ training schedules.

Teams and individual competitors have been severely hampered by sporting shutdowns and social-distancing measures and the situation could get worse.

Britain’s 200 metres world champion Dina Asher-Smith tweeted: “So wait… does this mean that athletes face up to another FOUR weeks of finding ways to fit in training – whilst potentially putting ourselves, coaches, support staff and loved ones at risk just to find out they were going to be postponed anyway!!”

Chairman Sir Hugh Robertson said: “We welcome the IOC executive board decision to review the options in respect of a postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“However, we urge rapid decision-making for the sake of athletes who still face significant uncertainty.”

Grainger said: “Given the circumstances, today’s news that the IOC are looking at options to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was inevitable, and the correct decision for the safety of athletes, staff and fans.”

World Athletics said it would “work with the IOC and all sport on an alternative date” and the International Paralympic Committee said it would “support the IOC every step of the way”.

Meanwhile, Former Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has tested positive for coronavirus.

“Dear friends, I have been tested for coronavirus and my test result is positive,” Fellaini, now with Chinese club Shandong Luneng, wrote on Twitter.

League Two Leyton Orient have also announced an unnamed member of their squad has tested positive for Covid-19.

Cellino, who owns Italian club Brescia, told the Corriere dello Sport newspaper: “Everything has to be moved to the next season. It is time for realism, gentlemen. This is the plague.”

Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore said club stewards were volunteering to help with crowd control and assisting the elderly with their shopping at supermarkets.

Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld has said he will donate tablet devices to hospitals and nursing homes to help sick people stay in touch with family and friends.

In Australia, the National Rugby League has vowed to continue with its season behind closed doors until the Australian government advises otherwise, even though the Australian Football League (AFL) suspended its season on Sunday until at least May 31.

In racing, the prestigious Dubai World Cup meeting, scheduled to take place at Meydan on Saturday, has been cancelled.