Bach said that the IOC is committed to hosting the Tokyo Olympics next year, but at the same time, it has to consider different schemes, such as isolating athletes.
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 21 (reporter Ji Ye, Wang Meng) International Olympic Committee President Bach said in an interview a few days ago that if the Tokyo Olympic Games postponed for one year could not be held in 2021, then it will be canceled.
On March this year, the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government jointly announced that, affected by the epidemic, the Tokyo Olympic games originally scheduled to open on July this year was postponed for one year to the opening on July 23, 2021. But Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said last month that Japan would not be able to hold comprehensive sports events unless the coronavirus was controlled. Bach also expressed his understanding of this.
“Frankly speaking, I have some understanding of this, because you can’t hire 3,000 or 5,000 people in the organizing committee forever.” Bach said in an interview with BBC, “You can’t change all the global competition plans of all major individual associations every year, and you can’t put athletes in uncertainty.”
Bach said that the IOC is committed to hosting the Tokyo Olympics next year, but at the same time, it has to consider different schemes, such as isolating athletes.
“What does this mean to the life of the Olympic village?” Bach said, “all these different schemes are under consideration, which is why I say this is a difficult task, because there are so many different choices that it cannot be easily decided now.”
“When we have a clear understanding of the world situation on July 23, 2021, we will make the right decision.”
When asked whether the Tokyo Olympics would be held behind closed doors, Bach said that was not what he wanted. “Because the Olympic spirit is also about uniting fans, fans in the Olympic venues make the Olympic Games so different that fans from all over the world need to be together.”
“But when it comes time to decide, I would like to ask you to give me more time to negotiate with athletes, who and Japanese partners.” Bach said.