Sports

Coronavirus: Tokyo Olympic Games Won’t Be Suspended – Organisers

Published

5 years ago

February 26, 2020

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are going ahead, organisers said Wednesday, even as the government called for major events in the coming weeks to be postponed, cancelled or scaled back over the new coronavirus.

The fate of the Summer Games has been in the spotlight as the outbreak of COVID-19 forces the cancellation and delays in Japan of everything from football matches to the rituals that mark the opening of the March sumo tournament.

But organisers have been at pains to insist that Olympics and Paralympics scheduled for the summer are not in danger of being scrapped.

“We have not thought about it. We have not heard about it. We have made inquiries, and we were told there is no such plan,” Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto told reporters.

“Our basic thinking is to conduct the Olympics and Paralympics as planned. That’s our assumption.”

Muto said organisers would consider how to respond to the call from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday for organisers of major events in the next two weeks to cancel, postpone or downsize the gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We will make decisions by reviewing events individually,” he said.

But he said the torch relay scheduled to begin March 26 in Fukushima and travel across the country would not be cancelled, though he acknowledged adjustments might be necessary.

“We are absolutely not considering cancelling it. But we will think about how we can hold it in ways that won’t lead to the spread of the virus, including reducing its scale,” he added.

Muto also hit back at coverage of comments by Dick Pound, a member of the International Olympic Committee, who told the Associated Press that a decision on the Games would have to be made in the next two to three months.

“When we consulted with IOC… we were told it was not IOC’s thinking.”

Earlier, Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto also told parliament that the Games were still on track.

“At the IOC review meeting in Tokyo the other day which committee chair John Coates participated, the coronavirus was of course on the agenda,” she told opposition lawmakers.

“At that time, we received a high rating on our preparation for the Tokyo Games, and the IOC offered to continue its support.”

“It is important to prepare considering the worst-case scenario,” she added.

But Hashimoto said her focus now was “simply to end the (virus crisis) at the earliest time possible, to hold the Tokyo Games with a sense of safety, and to get approval from the IOC.”

The Olympics are scheduled to open on July 24, with the Paralympics beginning from August 25.

AFP

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Related Topics:Coronavirus IOC Japan Tokyo Olympic Games

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EPL: Chelsea Edge Tottenham In Seven-Goal Thriller

Published

32 mins ago

December 8, 2024

The Pledge

Chelsea came back from two goals down to defeat Tottenham 4-3 in Sunday’s Premier League game.

Details later…

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Sports

‘They’re stronger’ — Guardiola on why City lost to Crystal Palace

Published

18 hours ago

December 8, 2024

The Pledge

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has explained why his team failed to beat Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.

Guardiola watched as Man City played a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Daniel Munoz put the hosts in front before Erling Haaland equalised for the visitors before the break.

Maxence Lacroix then restored Palace’s lead despite City’s dominance.

Rico Lewis eventually levelled the game again before he was shown a second yellow.

Speaking after the game, Guardiola admitted that City made mistakes, adding that Palace were stronger than his team on set pieces.

“Football is a game of mistakes,” Guardiola said in his post-match interview.

“We made a fantastic two goals and of course in the set pieces right now they are stronger than us, every single team, so we try to concede few and that is what we are doing. To come back in this stadium is not easy; we tried, and I’m really pleased with many things I saw.

For more Nigerian Breaking News in Entertainment, Politics, Sports and Crime, please visit our website.

Sports

Nottingham Nail Lacklustre Man United To Second Straight Defeat

Published

18 hours ago

December 8, 2024

The Pledge

Nottingham Forest condemned Manchester United to their second straight Premier League defeat on Saturday, beating Ruben Amorim’s men 3-2 at Old Trafford.

The visitors took the lead in the second minute through Nikola Milenkovic but Rasmus Hojlund levelled.

United were rocked again at the start of the second half by Morgan Gibbs-White, and Chris Wood made it 3-1.

Bruno Fernandes struck a fine shot from just outside the box to give United hope just after the hour mark but it was not enough.

Amorim started his United reign last month with a draw followed by two wins but predicted the club would “suffer for a long time” as he battled to improve their fortunes.

Reality is now starting to bite after a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in midweek followed by the Forest reverse at home.

Milenkovic left United goalkeeper Andre Onana rooted to the spot in the second minute, powering home a header from a corner — the third straight goal United had conceded from a corner.

The home side were level in the 18th minute after Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels could only parry Alejandro Garnacho’s shot and Hojlund steered home.

Forest made another lighting start to the second half, when Gibbs-White let fly with a swerving shot from distance that beat Onana.

Forest extended their lead in the 54th minute when Wood took advantage of more uncertainty in the United defence to head home.

Fernandes pulled one back after patient play from Amad Diallo, who laid it off to the United captain, who whipped it into the back of the net.

The win lifts Forest to fifth in the Premier League table but United are languishing in 13th spot and Amorim is facing a huge task.

AFP