Tokyo 2020: next year’s Olympics will be cancelled if pandemic not over, says Games chief

The pandemic has already forced a year-long delay of the Games, which are now scheduled to open on July 23, 2021

Organisers said the delayed Olympics will be a chance to showcase the world’s triumph over the coronavirus

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Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori has said the 2020 Olympics will be cancelled if the world is still wrestling with Covid-19 in July 2021. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:23pm, 28 Apr 2020Updated: 2:34pm, 28 Apr 2020

The postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be cancelled if the coronavirus pandemic isn’t brought under control by next year, the organising committee’s president said in comments published Tuesday.

The pandemic has already forced a year-long delay of the Games, which are now scheduled to open on July 23, 2021, but Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori said no further postponement was possible.

In an interview with Japan’s Nikkan Sports daily, Mori was categorical when asked if the Olympics could be delayed until 2022 if the pandemic remains a threat next year, replying: “No.”

“In that case, it’s cancelled,” Mori said.

Mori said the Games had been cancelled previously only during wartime and compared the battle against coronavirus to “fighting an invisible enemy”.

If the virus is successfully contained, “we’ll hold the Olympics in peace next summer”, he added. “Mankind is betting on it.”