Olympic Flame Arrives in Japan, but Games Prospects Are Dimming
The Olympic flame arrived in Japan right this moment from Greece as doubts proceed to develop that the Video games will be held on schedule because of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
Talking at a welcoming ceremony on Friday at an air base in northern Japan, Tokyo Olympics organizing committee president Yoshiro Mori talked about “the tough state of affairs” attributable to the virus whereas claiming that “We are going to guarantee a secure and safe video games.”
In the meantime, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) launched a press release saying that it stays “absolutely dedicated” to the Tokyo Video games and sees “no want for any drastic selections at this stage.”
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has lengthy insisted that the Video games will begin on July 24 as scheduled, however following a video convention with Group of Seven leaders on Monday he refused to substantiate the beginning date to reporters. “I need to maintain the Olympics and Paralympics completely,” he stated, with out defining “perfection.”
However with qualifying occasions being canceled one after the opposite and even many torch relay phases now scheduled to be held minus spectators, postponement is trying extra seemingly. On Thursday Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, stated in an interview that “something is feasible,” together with a delay. “It isn’t a call that needs to be made at this second,” he added.
COPYRIGHT_BP: Published on https://bingepost.com/olympic-flame-arrives-in-japan-but-games-prospects-are-dimming/68038/ by Cecilia Jones on 2020-03-20T12:44:45.000Z
One impediment to a postponement is that, in keeping with the IOC’s contract with Japanese authorities, the Video games have to be held in 2020. Any delay past that may require the negotiation of a brand new deal, one thing that each side want to keep away from. But when the pandemic continues to be raging on the finish of the 12 months, as many consultants predict, a return to the drafting board could also be inevitable.
