TOKYO: Tokyo Olympics 2020 President Yoshiro Mori has expressed concern that there is no chance of postponing the game beyond the rescheduled date.
Yoshiro Mori said, “The Olympics cannot be delayed beyond 23rd July 2021 as already forced by the COVID-19 outbreak.”
While expressing concerns, he asserted, “Also think about athletes and issues over game management, it is technically difficult to delay it by two years,” he added.
Mori said that he earlier asked Japan’s premier Shinzo Abe whether the country should consider a two-year postponement. “However the prime minister decided that one year is the way to go,” he added.
Last month, the Japanese organisers and the International Olympic Committee agreed to postpone the Olympics. Yet, questions have arisen about whether even a year’s postponement is sufficient to contain the virus or not.
Earlier this week, a Japanese expert Kentaro Iwata said that the postponed Olympics which was scheduled to be held in 2021 might be delayed further due to rising COVID-19 cases.
He said, “I do not think the Olympics is likely to be held next year.” Iwata said that holding the game would require not only Japan but also the rest of the world to have the virus under control.
Major sporting events have been canceled or postponed around the world due to the COVID-19. The Asian Football Confederation has also agreed to postpone the Asian World Cup qualifying matches in March and June.
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