Coronavirus: senior IOC official says Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be postponed

A one-year delay until 2021 remains the most likely option, says Dick Pound of the International Olympic Committee

The ‘astonishing’ spread of Covid-19 across the globe leaves the IOC with no other choice, he says

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) official Dick Pound. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:58am, 24 Mar 2020Updated: 4:09am, 24 Mar 2020

Senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) official Dick Pound said on Monday that a postponement of this year’s Tokyo Olympics was now inevitable as the world reels from the coronavirus pandemic.

The IOC said on Sunday that the body would wait four more weeks before announcing its decision on the fate of the July 24-August 9 Games, amid mounting calls for them to be rescheduled.

Pound, however, believes the IOC – which ruled out a cancellation of the Games – is now laying the groundwork for a postponement.

“My interpretation of the IOC’s communications is they don’t want to cancel, and they don’t think they can continue with the July 24 date,” Pound said. “So you’re looking at the ‘P’ word – postponement.

“They’re going to explore options with the Japanese of course, and then there all kinds of stakeholders – international federations, NOCs, athletes.

“And then in four weeks they’re going to try and come out with a plan B and make it as specific as they can make it in that time period.”

A one-year postponement to 2021 remained the most likely option, Pound added.