It will be two strikes and out for the Tokyo Olympics if the continuing COVID-19 crisis means the Games can’t be held in 2021.
Yoshiro Mori, president of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee told Japanese publication Nikkan Sports the Olympics won’t be postponed a second time because of the pandemic.If the disease means it can’t be held in July and August 2021, it would have to be cancelled. It would be the first time that something other than war had cancelled the Games.
Kentaro Iwata, a professor of infectious disease at Kobe University in Japan, said last week he believes it is unlikely the Games will be held, largely because of the control measures that would have to be in place by that time. Other experts have expressed doubt that the Games could be staged safely without development of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“In my view, it would be difficult to hold the Olympics unless effective vaccines are developed,” Japan Medical Association President Yoshitake Yokokura told reporters Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
Last week, a member of the International Olympic Committee said the Games need a rethink if they are going to continue. Read more here