LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Mar 10 – The 2020 Olympics are due to open in Tokyo on July 24 but with coronavirus sweeping the world, there is growing concern that the Games will be either postponed or even cancelled.
So will the Games go ahead? And who will take the decision and when?
AFP looks at the options.
Q: Have the Olympics ever been cancelled before?
A: Since the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896, the only reason that a Games has been cancelled is because of the world wars.
The outbreak of World War I saw the cancellation of the 1916 Games which were slated for Berlin while World War II accounted for Sapporo (winter) and Tokyo (summer) in 1940, and Cortina d’Ampezzo (winter) and London (summer) in 1944.
Since then there have been three major boycotts, in 1976 (Montreal), 1980 (Moscow) and Los Angeles (1984) but none was cancelled.
The 2004 Games in Athens was unaffected by the SARS virus of 2002-03 while the mosquito-bound Zika virus raised concerns ahead of Rio 2016 before fading in the run-up to the Games.
Q: Could the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo be cancelled?
A: In theory, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has the power to cancel the Games or to relocate them away from Tokyo. But at this point the IOC does not appear to be considering either option. After an executive board meeting last Wednesday its president, Thomas Bach, said: “Neither the word cancellation nor postponement was mentioned.”
The IOC has told AFP: “We are working with the Tokyo-2020 Organising Committee for the success of the Olympic Games. We have confidence in them, in the Japanese public authorities and in the World Health Organization (WHO) with whom we are in constant contact.”
But with the worsening of the coronavirus crisis, the possibility of cancellation cannot be entirely ruled out.
At 1400 GMT Tuesday, Japan had had more than 500 coronavirus cases across the country and has been linked to 12 deaths.
Q: Who will make the decision on whether the cancel the Games or not?
A: The power to cancel the Olympic Games formally rests with the IOC. The contract signed between the IOC and Tokyo provides that the IOC can withdraw the organisation of the Games from the host city “if the safety of the participants is seriously threatened”.
However, Bach was in bullish form when he spoke to the press last week, saying: “The issue is not on the table and has not been considered.”
Q: Could the 2020 Olympics be postponed?
A: In theory yes. The IOC entrusts the organising committee with the mission of organising the Olympic Games in a specific year, in Tokyo’s case 2020.
A decision to postpone could lead to Japan losing the Games altogether. However, this can be modified with two-thirds of the votes of the IOC members who could thus decide to postpone them.
In practice, it would be more difficult to fit a rescheduled Olympics into a hectic sporting calendar. Smaller federations may be able to accommodate at short notice but bigger sports such as football, basketball and tennis may struggle with any shift in dates.
Broadcasters such as NBC, who have paid a substantial amount of money for the rights and have already sold $970 million of advertising, will also be distinctly unhappy about a postponement that forces them to put the Games up against other high-profile and profitable leagues such as the NBA.
And given that the apartments in the Tokyo Olympic Village are set to be sold off as soon as the Paralympics are over, there may be nowhere to accommodate the athletes.
Oh yes. The athletes. It is all too easy to forget about them. But they also have schedules, not just for competition but for training, conditioning and preparation.
“We’re not going to start thinking about completely hypothetical questions,” said Jean-Christophe Rolland, president of the International Rowing Federation.
“As I speak, the Olympic Games will take place.”
Q: Could the Games be held behind closed doors?
A: Around 15 test events are still due to take place before the Games, notably in swimming, gymnastics and cycling, some of them qualifiers for the Games.
Several federations have floated the idea of holding these behind closed doors.
The Tokyo organising committee has said it will examine this on a “case by case” basis.
But the Asia Sevens rugby tournament, a test event scheduled to be held in Tokyo in April, was cancelled on Wednesday, suggesting ‘closed doors’ is not a preferred option.
Even if some were held without spectators it would be far more difficult and costly for the Olympic Games — over 4.5 million tickets have already been sold.
Q: When will a decision be taken?
A: The IOC has not said anything on this matter, only repeating that it has confidence in the “success” of the event. It is not surprising given that any prevarication or uncertainty might lead to a dip in ticket sales and could also affect athlete preparation.
Only Dick Pound, the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency who is an IOC member, has popped his head above the parapet. “At some point, whether it’s two months out or one month out, somebody is going to have to decide ‘Yes’ or ‘No’,” Pound said last month.
Given the immense amount of money at stake — Tokyo has spent billions of dollars on infrastructure and preparation, which is not covered by insurance — the IOC and the organising committee will want to leave it as late as possible before pulling the plug on the biggest sporting show on earth.
(Visited 11 times, 4 visits today)
%thecontent%%avatar%%author%
- %authornetworks%
- %authornetworks%
Comments
%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"%title%
%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"%title%
%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"MPs summon CS Amina to explain Team Kenyau2019s safety in Olympics amid coronavius fears
rn rn Gamern rn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn 
rn rn rn rn rn 
rn rn rn rn rn 
rn rn rn rn rn 
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn More Headlines
rn rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Tottenham crash out of Champions League, Leipzig into quartersrn
rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn LeBron backs off ‘no play’ threat over fan-free gamesrn
rn rn Basketballrn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Coronavirus: could the Tokyo Olympics be cancelled?rn
rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Klopp, Guardiola voice concerns over matches behind closed doorsrn
rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 1 hour ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Fans banned from Barca v Napoli Champions League tie over coronaviursrn
rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 11 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Ronaldinho lawyers push for footballer’s release over fake passport scandalrn
rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 13 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rnMost Popular
rn- SportPesa announce change of its global sponsorships
by ALEX ISABOKE NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 u2013 Hours after English Premier League… - Rudisha to make Olympics decision by May
by Timothy Olobulu Kenya's 800 metres world record holder and olympic champion David… - Road closure for Sundayu2019s Beyond Zero Marathon revealed
by Keziah Aoma AK President Rtd Gen Jackson Tuwei (Center) and Nairobi Traffic… - KCB RFC winger Tony Onyango is dead
by ALEX ISABOKE NAIROBI, Kenya, March 4 u2013 KCB Rugby Club winger Tony… - Everton to terminate SportPesa contract
by ALEX ISABOKE LONDON, United Kingdom, Feb 16 u2013 English Premier League side…
All Sports
rn trn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn Tottenham crash out of Champions League, Leipzig into quarters
rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 11th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn LeBron backs off ‘no play’ threat over fan-free games
rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Coronavirus: could the Tokyo Olympics be cancelled?
rn rn rn Gamern rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Paraguayan judge orders Ronaldinho to remain in prison
rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 11th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Klopp, Guardiola voice concerns over matches behind closed doors
rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rnPoll Question
rn rn ntnttnttnttWILL ARSENAL FINISH TOP FOUR IN 2019/20 EPL SEASON?
- ntt
- NO ntt
- YES ntt
Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn 
rn rn rn rn Fans banned from Barca v Napoli Champions League tie over coronaviurs
rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Ronaldinho lawyers push for footballer’s release over fake passport scandal
rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Ferrari wants to put ‘smiles on faces’ as Italy locks down
rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Miami Open to go ahead after Indian Wells axed: statement
rn rn rn Tennisrn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Italian Olympic Committee calls for sport to be stopped until April 3
rn rn rn Gamern rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnSponsored
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnFeatured
rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Tottenham crash out of Champions League, Leipzig into quartersrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 11th Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn LeBron backs off ‘no play’ threat over fan-free gamesrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Coronavirus: could the Tokyo Olympics be cancelled?rn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn 
rn rn rn LABAN WANAMBISIrn MPs summon CS Amina to explain Team Kenyau2019s safety in Olympics amid coronavius fearsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Paraguayan judge orders Ronaldinho to remain in prisonrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 11th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rntrn rn tMost Popular
rn- SportPesa announce change of its global sponsorships by ALEX ISABOKE NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 u2013 Hours after English Premier League…
- Rudisha to make Olympics decision by May by Timothy Olobulu Kenya's 800 metres world record holder and olympic champion David…
- Road closure for Sundayu2019s Beyond Zero Marathon revealed by Keziah Aoma AK President Rtd Gen Jackson Tuwei (Center) and Nairobi Traffic…
- KCB RFC winger Tony Onyango is dead by ALEX ISABOKE NAIROBI, Kenya, March 4 u2013 KCB Rugby Club winger Tony…
- Everton to terminate SportPesa contract by ALEX ISABOKE LONDON, United Kingdom, Feb 16 u2013 English Premier League side…
Featured
rn rn trn rnrn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Tottenham crash out of Champions League, Leipzig into quartersrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 11th Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn LeBron backs off ‘no play’ threat over fan-free gamesrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Coronavirus: could the Tokyo Olympics be cancelled?rn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn LABAN WANAMBISIrn MPs summon CS Amina to explain Team Kenyau2019s safety in Olympics amid coronavius fearsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 10th Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Paraguayan judge orders Ronaldinho to remain in prisonrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 11th Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"Oops...Something broke on our end
"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */
