The 2020 Olympic Games is set to begin in Tokyo, Japan, in July. However, with the increasing number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, there are talks that the event could be canceled. As a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will Princess Anne make a drastic decision to cancel Tokyo 2020 if the outbreak continuously escalates?
The Princess Royal will be playing an important role in the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games, along with other members of the IOC. They all have to decide if they have to cancel the event if the coronavirus outbreak gets more severe.
Tokyo 2020 is set to take place from July 24 to August 9. Paralympics, on the other hand, will begin on August 25. According to Express, IOC will decide if these events will push through at the end of May. Dick Pound, one of IOC members, earlier revealed to Associated Press the things they had to do because of the outbreak.
Pound admitted that a lot of things needed to start happening. They are now ramping the event's security, food, the Olympic village, hotels, and media people who would also be in Japan to build their studios.
However, if the cases of coronavirus are still increasing by the summer, there might be a cancellation. "You just don't postpone something on the size and scale of the Olympics," Pound explained.
Olympic Games consultant Terrence Burns, on the other hand, revealed that the talks about the event's potential cancellation only occur when there are natural disasters, like earthquakes or fires, and terrorist attacks. In his time in the business, he has never seen the Olympic organizing committee asked if they are prepared for a global pandemic, New York Times noted.
In less than five months, the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo is about to begin. Now, Japan organizers and the International Olympic Committee headquarters in Switzerland are now having a hard time dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. With over 1,000 cases in the country, the virus is threatening to cancel the world's largest sporting event.
With the continuous spread of the disease in the state, Japan officials consider the suggestions for the possibility of canceling the games or changing its schedule. At a recent news briefing, the chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, revealed that the preparations for the 2020 Olympic Games are proceeding as planned. He even said that the Olympic torch is set to begin its journey in the country this month, following its schedule.
