Beijing 2022 Games ‘pressing ahead’ despite coronavirus threat and concerns about Tokyo Olympics in 2021

The reassurance comes days after former IOC vice-president Dick Pound said the Beijing Games would not happen if the Tokyo Olympics are cancelled

China sports authorities have ruled out hosting most sports events for the rest of 2020 because of a resurgence of the coronavirus in the region

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Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic mascot Bing Dwen Dwen (left) and 2022 Winter Paralympic Games mascot (Shuey Rong Rong) are revealed during a ceremony in Beijing in September. Photo: AP

Published: 6:26pm, 17 Jul 2020Updated: 6:26pm, 17 Jul 2020

Beijing 2022 organisers were “pressing ahead” with preparations for the Winter Olympics on Friday after a senior IOC official warned the coronavirus could force the Games to be postponed.

Dick Pound, a former International Olympic Committee vice-president, said this week that all options would have to be considered if the Beijing Games cannot be held in 2022.

Beijing is due to host the Winter Olympics just six months after the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, which have been put back a year to July-August 2021 because of the coronavirus.

However, with the pandemic showing no signs of receding, Japanese and IOC officials have raised fears that the Tokyo Olympics may have to be cancelled altogether.

Zhang Jiandong (second right), vice mayor of Beijing and executive vice-president of Beijing 2022, attends an Olympic broadcasting meeting in Beijing in February. Photo: Xinhua

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