International Committee of Olympic (IOC) President, Thomas Bach started off the row for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in a press conference as the former fencer quoted that organizers are preparing for a “successful” game, amid certain rows of a rising epidemic going around. However, in a contradictory statement, the health minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, Seiko Hashimoto has quoted that the games should be postponed till next year.
“In the contract signed by the IOC, the host city and others, it stated the IOC has the right to cancel the games only if they could not be held in 2020.” Hashimoto said. “This could be taken to mean the games could be postponed until later this year.”
In a more contradictory statement, both the committees and IOC have both quoted that the games should go forth as planned from July 24th to August 9th, 2020. Having a united front in times as unforgiving times like the present is highly beneficial, something which the committees governing the games cannot quite stand on yet.
On a media call last Thursday, Bach insisted he “will not add fuel to the flames of speculation” when it came to questions over postponing this summer’s Games or exploring alternatives. “The IOC, in cooperation with all the authorities and the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), is fully committed to a successful Olympic Games in Tokyo starting on the 24 July,” he said.
According to regulations, a final health inspection will take place following which Bach will hold a final conference where he will deliver the findings and suggest an action. However, following the statements made from the leading committee till this point suggest that the games will proceed as natural.
A word from the WHO’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has further upped the ante by citing that it was “too early of a call” to make regarding the Olympics.
