2020 Summer Olympics Likely to Be Postponed, Japan Says
President of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics organizing committee Yoshiro Mori said on Monday that discussions over the postponement of the games were unavoidable and that a possible alternative scenario to the original schedule is to be compiled within four weeks. #Coronavirus #Olympics #Tokyo2020
Mori said the postponement was not the first choice, but that a discussion was necessary given the current situation over the coronavirus pandemic.
Whether Japan can hold the Tokyo Games as planned on July 24 has been a major international concern as the pandemic has spread globally.
Mori said there would be “no discussion whatsoever” over canceling the games altogether, but said the country was “not so foolish” as to say it will go ahead with games as planned.
This comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Sunday announced it was considering a postponement.
In addition, Major Olympic nations like Canada and Australia have added pressure by saying they will not go if the games are staged this year.
Japan is officially spending $12.6 billion to organize the Olympics, but a national audit put the figure at more than twice that much.
The bill is sure to increase with any postponement, and the vast majority of the spending if from the public treasury.
Globally, the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 339,200 people and killed more than 14,700.
The COVID-19 illness causes mild or moderate symptoms in most people, but severe symptoms are more likely in the elderly or those with existing health problems.
More than 98,800 people have recovered so far, mostly in China.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2TwO8Gm
QUICKTAKE ON SOCIAL:
Follow QuickTake on Twitter: twitter.com/quicktake
Like QuickTake on Facebook: facebook.com/quicktake
Follow QuickTake on Instagram: instagram.com/quicktake
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJ0oQZ
Email us at [email protected]
QuickTake by Bloomberg is a global news network delivering up-to-the-minute analysis on the biggest news, trends and ideas for a new generation of leaders.
source
