Beijing 2022 organisers have been “urgent forward” with preparations for the Winter Olympics Friday after a senior IOC official warned the coronavirus might drive the Video games to be postponed. Dick Pound, a former International Olympic Committee vice-president, informed AFP that every one choices must be thought of if the Beijing Video games can’t be held in 2022. Beijing is because of host the Winter Olympics simply six months after the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, which have been put again a yr to July-August 2021 due to the coronavirus.
Nevertheless, with the pandemic displaying no indicators of receding, Japanese and IOC officers have each raised fears that the Tokyo Olympics could should be cancelled altogether.
“To get to that time, the place you determine you may’t do it (Beijing) in 2022, you discover no matter choices you are able to do,” Pound mentioned in an interview.
“If we’re in Tokyo, issues all could also be prepared for Beijing. Alternatively, they is probably not,” he added.
In an announcement to AFP, Beijing 2022 mentioned the IOC is ploughing on with each Video games as deliberate, regardless of the coronavirus nonetheless claiming lives in a lot of the world.
“So far as we all know, the place of the IOC may be very clear and stays unchanged,” Beijing organisers mentioned.
“They’re absolutely concentrated and dedicated to the profitable supply” of each the Tokyo and Beijing Video games, they added.
China, the place the coronavirus emerged late final yr earlier than spreading worldwide, has largely introduced the contagion beneath management regardless of periodic localised new clusters.
Nevertheless, Chinese authorities have ruled out hosting most international sports events this year — apart from 2022 trials — as a part of measures to stop a resurgence.
“At current, Beijing 2022 is implementing strict prevention and management measures in opposition to COVID-19, whereas urgent forward with the Video games preparations in an orderly method,” organisers added.
Promoted
“All competitors venues are anticipated to complete development as scheduled by the top of this yr.
“It’s our agency perception that we’ll stay dedicated to safeguarding the well being and security of the athletes, each participant concerned within the Olympic Video games and the worldwide group.”
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