Coronavirus update: Tokyo Olympics might be postponed till the end of 2020

Amid growing concerns over Coronavirus outbreak, latest reports coming in state that Tokyo Olympics might be postponed until the end of the year. Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto told the lawmakers that as per Tokyo’s contract with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), it actually allows them to delay the games till the end of the year.

While responding to a lawmaker’s question in the Parliament, the Olympics Minister said that the contract calls for the games to be held in 2020, which could also be interpreted as allowing a postponement.
However, under the hosting agreement, IOC has the right to cancel the games. However, last week, IOC President Thomas Bach stated that this organisation was fully committed to holding the games as per the schedule despite the spread of Coronavirus.
Currently, the Tokyo Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 9, 2020, and both IOC and Japan have insisted that they will be hosting the event as per the schedule, as any halt to the games would turn out to be a costly affair.

Reports also suggest that the test events for Olympic games have been cancelled because of the said virus outbreak in Japan, and that IOC Vice President Dick Pound has suggested that the games might be called off if the virus is not contained till the month of May.
Currently, there are no signs of virus’ abating, and Japan’s National Broadcasting Organisation recently reported that the number of infections in the country is also increasing.

While protestors in Japan are calling for cancelling the event amid the virus outbreak, Coronavirus has already impacted a number of sporting events, including the calling off of Ireland’s Six Nations game against Italy as well as doubts over hosting of Euro 2020.