It’s too early to set a deadline on how subsequent yr’s postponed Tokyo Olympics will be organised, Olympic chief Thomas Bach mentioned Wednesday, including developments for fast COVID-19 testing and vaccines would enormously facilitate the Games going ahead. “We do not actually know the place the atmosphere we shall be in subsequent yr, it is too early to set a deadline,” Bach mentioned after an govt board assembly of the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) which he heads up. “We do not know the way the world seems like tomorrow, how may you anticipate us to know the way the world appear like in 316 days?”
The 2020 Video games were postponed in a historic determination earlier this yr due to the coronavirus pandemic, and they’re now set to open on July 23, 2021.
“Within the subsequent coming weeks you will note vital and intensive discussions going down with regard to the totally different eventualities concerning the Covid-19 counter-measures,” Bach mentioned.
“General we’ll after all proceed to comply with the precept that has pushed all our selections to this point with regard to Tokyo and which means to organise the Olympic Video games in a protected atmosphere for all folks concerned subsequent summer season.”
The IOC’s taskforce, Bach mentioned, was making ready for a large number of various eventualities.
“That is not straightforward, however after all social distancing is into consideration,” he mentioned.
“We’re additionally following very intently what’s taking place with the event of fast testing and developments of vaccination and vaccines as a result of this might even have an have an effect on and will then facilitate the preparations.
“It is simply too early to provide a concrete reply to what would be the ultimate state of affairs and the ultimate method.”
‘Cautiously optimistic’
Bach acknowledged the taskforce was intently following huge sporting occasions all over the world to look at how they had been organised.
Contact had been made “to change data and study and it will proceed”.
“I am solely positive about one factor on this unsure world and unsure improvement… the atmosphere relating to Tokyo shall be totally different than from the atmosphere at the moment. We solely have no idea through which method.
“Due to this fact, you can’t robotically switch the expertise we’re gaining with them to the organisation of the Video games in a single yr from now.”
However Bach insisted he thought “we could be cautiously optimistic”.
“Based on our data and the contact we have now with specialists, the World Well being Group, but in addition with pharmaceutical corporations and what we’re seeing in the marketplace, we’ll see an excellent progress as regards to fast testing as an example which is able to enormously affect the planning and state of affairs.
“We’re additionally knowledgeable about encouraging information concerning the improvement of vaccines and all these will play a job.
“They won’t be the ‘silver bullet’ however they will enormously facilitate the organisation of the Video games and hopefully already occasions within the lead as much as the Video games.”
Promoted
Bach additionally performed down feedback to AFP by John Coates, the IOC’s Coordination Fee for the Tokyo Video games, that the Video games would happen “with or with out Covid”.
“Mr Coates, like all the IOC, is totally dedicated to the precept we at all times apply: Olympic Video games in a protected atmosphere for all members,” Bach mentioned.
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