After postponing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to the year 2021, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had said there would be ‘extreme ramifications' for rescheduling the Games. Now, president of the committee Thomas Bach has said that IOC is preparing to spend several hundred million dollars in additional cost following the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Bach stated that it was “impossible to say” exactly how much the rescheduling of the Games will cost while adding that Japan will continue to cover the costs under terms of existing agreement whereas IOC will be responsible for its share of costs. The financial ramifications were discussed with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before the postponement of the quadrennial event was announced in March 2020.,

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sports-minister-visits-sai-headquarters-essential-staff-resumes-office-292223" hreflang="en">Sports Minister visits SAI headquarters, essential staff resumes office</a>

“We agreed with the prime minister that Japan will continue to cover the costs it would have done under the terms of the existing agreement for 2020, and the IOC will continue to be responsible for its share of the costs,” Bach told a German daily.

“For us, the IOC, it is already clear that we shall be faced with several hundred million dollars of additional costs,” he added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nothing-is-in-favour-of-any-kind-of-sport-forget-ipl-bcci-president-sourav-ganguly-292216" hreflang="en">Nothing is in favour of any kind of sport, forget IPL: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly</a>

The IOC president further clarified that “cancellation was not really an option for anyone involved in the decision” while adding the postponement call was “not a decision the IOC could take on its own.” 
&nbsp;

After postponing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to the year 2021, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had said there would be ‘extreme ramifications' for rescheduling the Games.

After postponing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to the year 2021, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had said there would be ‘extreme ramifications' for rescheduling the Games. Now, president of the committee Thomas Bach has said that IOC is preparing to spend several hundred million dollars in additional cost following the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Bach stated that it was “impossible to say” exactly how much the rescheduling of the Games will cost while adding that Japan will continue to cover the costs under terms of existing agreement whereas IOC will be responsible for its share of costs. The financial ramifications were discussed with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before the postponement of the quadrennial event was announced in March 2020., ALSO READ: Sports Minister visits SAI headquarters, essential staff resumes office “We agreed with the prime minister that Japan will continue to cover the costs it would have done under the terms of the existing agreement for 2020, and the IOC will continue to be responsible for its share of the costs,” Bach told a German daily. “For us, the IOC, it is already clear that we shall be faced with several hundred million dollars of additional costs,” he added. ALSO READ: Nothing is in favour of any kind of sport, forget IPL: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly The IOC president further clarified that “cancellation was not really an option for anyone involved in the decision” while adding the postponement call was “not a decision the IOC could take on its own.”

IOC looking at 'several hundred million dollars of additional costs' after postponement of Tokyo Olympics: Thomas Bach

In 2016, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe broke with his staid public image to pop up in Rio dressed as Super Mario for the official handover of the Olympic Games to Tokyo.

The stunt reflected his commitment to an event that was supposed to be the crowning glory of his tenure. But analysts say the historic delay of the Games over the coronavirus may not be all bad news for Abe.

If the country's longest-serving premier can see off the twin threats of a larger-scale outbreak of the virus in Japan and a major economic crisis caused by the pandemic, he could even end up extending his tenure, due to expire in September 2021, experts say.

Abe has bet heavily on Japan hosting the Games, casting them as a chance to showcase recovery after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster, and delaying them would once have been seen as an "unthinkable political defeat", said Tobias Harris, senior vice president at consultancy Teneo.

But the rapidly expanding coronavirus epidemic has changed the political calculus, making holding the Games a&nbsp;greater risk than putting it off for now, he said.

The delay "removes a significant source of uncertainty for the administration and could give a bump to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's approval ratings, since large majorities support delaying the games," Harris said.

Japan has so far been something of an outlier in the pandemic, recording around 1,300 cases and 45 deaths, far fewer than in many countries around the world.

If the outbreak can be contained, Abe may find himself with enough support to continue his tenure past September 2021, said Tetsuro Kato, professor emeritus of Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.

"It's possible that members of his Liberal Democratic Party argue for a further extension of his term," Kato said.

<h2>- Economic pressure -</h2>

Abe's government enjoys stable public support, hovering around 50 percent in approval rating polls, and the prime minister has benefitted from a dearth of viable alternatives both within his ruling party and the fragmented opposition.

A series of corruption scandals, the stumbling economy and unpopular legislation have at no time seriously threatened his government.

"In this case, the pandemic could even shift the public's attention" away from his administration's shortcomings, Kato said.

Perhaps more problematic for Abe is the expected economic downturn from the global pandemic. Analysts say the postponement of the Olympics is unlikely to result in a major lasting economic hit, with benefits simply delayed rather than lost altogether.

But the country's economy was already struggling before the pandemic began, with the prime minister's signature "Abenomics" strategy failing to boost sluggish growth.

Tourism had come under pressure from a spat with South Korea, and domestic consumption has been hit by a sales tax hike imposed last year despite fears it could send the country into a recession.

The government has unveiled two emergency economic packages already and is expected to offer fresh stimulus in the coming weeks.

The economy, rather than the delay of the Olympics, is now the main pressure point on Abe, said Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University's Tokyo campus.

"I think that when we look at the post-mortem of COVID-19, the Olympics will be a minor footnote," he said.

<h2>- Olympics as 'symbolic victory' -</h2>

Analysts said the other potential threat for Abe is that Japan's currently small-scale outbreak gradually expands, with the government already facing some criticism over its relatively hands-off approach to the pandemic.

Japan has not yet imposed the sort of lockdowns seen elsewhere in the world, and moved much slower than many other countries to impose travel restrictions on visitors.

Officials argue they have carefully tracked the outbreak, and that measures including school closures have helped contain the virus so far.

But Tokyo's governor warned this week that cases were increasing in the capital, urging people to avoid unnecessary outings this weekend.

"As opinion polls show, he (Abe) has strength left in him. But this will all change once a severe pandemic hits Japan," Kato said.

If Abe can ride out the pandemic and economic downturn though, even a delayed Olympics could be the sort of glittering final act he hoped for, said Harris.

"A postponed games could not only be just as significant economically but could also be an important symbolic victory for the prime minister, since convening the games would be a milestone for global recovery from the pandemic."

In 2016, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe broke with his staid public image to pop up in Rio dressed as Super Mario for the official handover of the Olympic Games to Tokyo.

In 2016, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe broke with his staid public image to pop up in Rio dressed as Super Mario for the official handover of the Olympic Games to Tokyo. The stunt reflected his commitment to an event that was supposed to be the crowning glory of his tenure. But analysts say the historic delay of the Games over the coronavirus may not be all bad news for Abe. If the country's longest-serving premier can see off the twin threats of a larger-scale outbreak of the virus in Japan and a major economic crisis caused by the pandemic, he could even end up extending his tenure, due to expire in September 2021, experts say. Abe has bet heavily on Japan hosting the Games, casting them as a chance to showcase recovery after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster, and delaying them would once have been seen as an "unthinkable political defeat", said Tobias Harris, senior vice president at consultancy Teneo. But the rapidly expanding coronavirus epidemic has changed the political calculus, making holding the Games a greater risk than putting it off for now, he said. The delay "removes a significant source of uncertainty for the administration and could give a bump to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's approval ratings, since large majorities support delaying the games," Harris said. Japan has so far been something of an outlier in the pandemic, recording around 1,300 cases and 45 deaths, far fewer than in many countries around the world. If the outbreak can be contained, Abe may find himself with enough support to continue his tenure past September 2021, said Tetsuro Kato, professor emeritus of Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo. "It's possible that members of his Liberal Democratic Party argue for a further extension of his term," Kato said. - Economic pressure - Abe's government enjoys stable public support, hovering around 50 percent in approval rating polls, and the prime minister has benefitted from a dearth of viable alternatives both within his ruling party and the fragmented opposition. A series of corruption scandals, the stumbling economy and unpopular legislation have at no time seriously threatened his government. "In this case, the pandemic could even shift the public's attention" away from his administration's shortcomings, Kato said. Perhaps more problematic for Abe is the expected economic downturn from the global pandemic. Analysts say the postponement of the Olympics is unlikely to result in a major lasting economic hit, with benefits simply delayed rather than lost altogether. But the country's economy was already struggling before the pandemic began, with the prime minister's signature "Abenomics" strategy failing to boost sluggish growth. Tourism had come under pressure from a spat with South Korea, and domestic consumption has been hit by a sales tax hike imposed last year despite fears it could send the country into a recession. The government has unveiled two emergency economic packages already and is expected to offer fresh stimulus in the coming weeks. The economy, rather than the delay of the Olympics, is now the main pressure point on Abe, said Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University's Tokyo campus. "I think that when we look at the post-mortem of COVID-19, the Olympics will be a minor footnote," he said. - Olympics as 'symbolic victory' - Analysts said the other potential threat for Abe is that Japan's currently small-scale outbreak gradually expands, with the government already facing some criticism over its relatively hands-off approach to the pandemic. Japan has not yet imposed the sort of lockdowns seen elsewhere in the world, and moved much slower than many other countries to impose travel restrictions on visitors. Officials argue they have carefully tracked the outbreak, and that measures including school closures have helped contain the virus so far. But Tokyo's governor warned this week that cases were increasing in the capital, urging people to avoid unnecessary outings this weekend. "As opinion polls show, he (Abe) has strength left in him. But this will all change once a severe pandemic hits Japan," Kato said. If Abe can ride out the pandemic and economic downturn though, even a delayed Olympics could be the sort of glittering final act he hoped for, said Harris. "A postponed games could not only be just as significant economically but could also be an important symbolic victory for the prime minister, since convening the games would be a milestone for global recovery from the pandemic."

For Japan's Abe, Olympic delay may be no sweat

Their stints were supposed to wind up after the Olympics this year but with the mega-event postponed till 2021, several foreign coaches training Indian athletes for Tokyo are set for extended tenures as they seek to complete their "unfinished mission".

Whether it's women's wrestling coach Andrew Cook, shooting's celebrated pistol coach Pavel Smirnov, boxing's duo of Santiago Nieva and Rafaelle Bergamasco or athletics' high performance director Volker Herrmann, their contracts were to end after the Games.

But the Games will have to wait for a year thanks to the raging COVID-19 pandemic. This translates into contract extension for India's coaching imports in the "interest of continuity" and the process will be initiated once the national lockdown to combat the pandemic comes to an end.

"It's the Sports Authority of India (SAI) which pays their salaries. We have to speak with them...They also know that these are extraordinary circumstances, so I don't see any problem in getting extension in contracts for them," Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Secretary VN Prasood told PTI.

The WFI had roped in American Cook for women wrestlers and Georgian Temo Gabishvili for the Greco-Roman grapplers. Recently, the WFI had also taken the celebrated Bajrang Punia's Georgian coach Shako Bentinidis under its wings.

"The situation will be clear once this 21-day lockdown is complete," Prasood added.

The national governing body of shooting -- NRAI -- also does not foresee any problem in getting longer contracts for Smirnov and rifle coach Oleg Mikahilov. Their tenures were to end in August this year as the Olympics was scheduled from July 24 to August 9.

"There will be a review for sure. Naturally we will likely approach them (SAI) to give our coaches extension of their contracts. The president (Raninder Singh) will decide once the office opens but we would like them to continue with us," an NRAI official said.

But are the coaches ready to accept these extended tenures? At least, those involved with boxing are.

"My contract with SAI runs out in December but I will stay back if offered an extension. It's taken a lot to get the results and can't really leave without crossing the line, can we? I will accept a longer contract if offered," said Nieva.

The Boxing Federation of India said it is happy to oblige given that an unprecedented nine pugilists made the Tokyo cut in the very first qualifier tournament.

"All foreign coaches associated with us will get extensions. In fact, the Ministry wanted us to have them till the 2024 Games for continuity. So, it won't be a problem but we have to wait for the lockdown to end," said a top BFI officials.

"The paperwork will have to wait a few weeks."

Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwalla had a simple response to PTI's query on extension for Volker.

"It is common sense."

A step ahead of the rest in this case, Hockey India has already put in a plea to SAI, seeking longer tenures for men's coach Graham Reid and women's in-charge Sjoerd Marijne

"We have sent a request to SAI to extend the contracts of all support staff associated with both men's and women's teams, including foreign coaches," Hockey India CEO Elena Norman said.

"We have spoken to all the foreign coaches and they have assured us that they are all committed to their jobs till Tokyo Games," she added.

So far, close to 80 Indian athletes have qualified for the Games, the new dates for which are not yet out.

The strength of India's contingent for Tokyo is expected to increase once the qualifiers are restarted.

But that will take a while to be figured out as the world battles travel restrictions and lockdowns in wake of the pandemic, which has led to more than 21,000 deaths till now.

Their stints were supposed to wind up after the Olympics this year but with the mega-event postponed till 2021, several foreign coaches training Indian athletes for Tokyo are set for extended tenures as they seek to complete their "unfinished mission".

Their stints were supposed to wind up after the Olympics this year but with the mega-event postponed till 2021, several foreign coaches training Indian athletes for Tokyo are set for extended tenures as they seek to complete their "unfinished mission". Whether it's women's wrestling coach Andrew Cook, shooting's celebrated pistol coach Pavel Smirnov, boxing's duo of Santiago Nieva and Rafaelle Bergamasco or athletics' high performance director Volker Herrmann, their contracts were to end after the Games. But the Games will have to wait for a year thanks to the raging COVID-19 pandemic. This translates into contract extension for India's coaching imports in the "interest of continuity" and the process will be initiated once the national lockdown to combat the pandemic comes to an end. "It's the Sports Authority of India (SAI) which pays their salaries. We have to speak with them...They also know that these are extraordinary circumstances, so I don't see any problem in getting extension in contracts for them," Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Secretary VN Prasood told PTI. The WFI had roped in American Cook for women wrestlers and Georgian Temo Gabishvili for the Greco-Roman grapplers. Recently, the WFI had also taken the celebrated Bajrang Punia's Georgian coach Shako Bentinidis under its wings. "The situation will be clear once this 21-day lockdown is complete," Prasood added. The national governing body of shooting -- NRAI -- also does not foresee any problem in getting longer contracts for Smirnov and rifle coach Oleg Mikahilov. Their tenures were to end in August this year as the Olympics was scheduled from July 24 to August 9. "There will be a review for sure. Naturally we will likely approach them (SAI) to give our coaches extension of their contracts. The president (Raninder Singh) will decide once the office opens but we would like them to continue with us," an NRAI official said. But are the coaches ready to accept these extended tenures? At least, those involved with boxing are. "My contract with SAI runs out in December but I will stay back if offered an extension. It's taken a lot to get the results and can't really leave without crossing the line, can we? I will accept a longer contract if offered," said Nieva. The Boxing Federation of India said it is happy to oblige given that an unprecedented nine pugilists made the Tokyo cut in the very first qualifier tournament. "All foreign coaches associated with us will get extensions. In fact, the Ministry wanted us to have them till the 2024 Games for continuity. So, it won't be a problem but we have to wait for the lockdown to end," said a top BFI officials. "The paperwork will have to wait a few weeks." Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwalla had a simple response to PTI's query on extension for Volker. "It is common sense." A step ahead of the rest in this case, Hockey India has already put in a plea to SAI, seeking longer tenures for men's coach Graham Reid and women's in-charge Sjoerd Marijne "We have sent a request to SAI to extend the contracts of all support staff associated with both men's and women's teams, including foreign coaches," Hockey India CEO Elena Norman said. "We have spoken to all the foreign coaches and they have assured us that they are all committed to their jobs till Tokyo Games," she added. So far, close to 80 Indian athletes have qualified for the Games, the new dates for which are not yet out. The strength of India's contingent for Tokyo is expected to increase once the qualifiers are restarted. But that will take a while to be figured out as the world battles travel restrictions and lockdowns in wake of the pandemic, which has led to more than 21,000 deaths till now.

Olympics 2021: India set to retain foreign coaches whose contracts would have ended after Tokyo 2020

Hundreds of luxury apartments overlooking Tokyo Bay that were due to be converted from the Athletes' Village have already been sold -- just one of the many headaches caused by the historic postponement of the Tokyo Olympics.

Touted by developers as a "flagship neighbourhood for urban lifestyles", the buildings housing the 11,000 competitors were to be hastily repurposed into more than 4,000 condos with stunning city views, some carrying a price tag of 170 million yen ($1.5 million).

The decision to postpone the Games by up to a year has pitched buyers into uncertainty, according to Zoe Ward, director of Tokyo Property Central, with close to 900 units already snapped up.

"Even if it's not a financial hit, it's going to be a big inconvenience to them," Ward told AFP.

She added that buyers would now be scouring the small print of their contracts to see if they can pull out without losing their deposits -- usually around five percent.

"The wording they put in the contract is pretty vague, it normally says natural disasters or anything outside the sellers' control so it might fall under that category," said the property expert.

One buyer, a man in his 30s, had been planning to move into the development in March 2023 with his wife and children and told AFP there were "many, many scenarios" that could now arise.

However, he was relatively zen about the delay given the unprecedented coronavirus situation.

"I'm not so stupid as to see the coronavirus effect as being a problem on the same level as a construction defect. I would say it can't be helped. I'm sure the selling side is facing a hard time," said the man, who declined to be named.

<h2>- 'Double whammy' -</h2>

Tomohiro Makino, CEO of consulting firm Oraga Research and an expert on Japanese real estate, told AFP that developers faced a "double whammy" of a falling market generally and image problems with the Olympic Village project.

"There is a concern prices could drop. If excitement and anticipation (about the Olympics) fades away, the situation will be severe for the selling side. For now, cancellations are a critical problem for them," said Makino.

One of the biggest draws -- being part of the Olympic legacy -- could now be tarnished, he added.

He said developers should have legal cover from a force majeure clause but given the high profile of the project, they may be inclined to show flexibility -- especially as only a quarter of the units have been put up for sale.

"The selling side has been forced into making a tough decision," he said.

Sellers had marketed the development, which comprises 23 tower blocks capable of housing up to 12,000 people, as "the city complex where everything begins" with views of the ocean, Tokyo Tower and the metropolis' glittering skyline.

The 18-hectare (45 acre) plot would also feature schools, a playground, swimming pool and gym. As the apartments are renovated from elite athletes' accommodation, they are also slightly bigger than average Tokyo flats, which tend to be on the small side.

"Looking from the sky, the new neighbourhood appears like a large flag right in the middle of Tokyo. It has limitless potential as a new flagship model for urban lifestyles," according to the promotional material.

<h2>- 'Clear schedule' -</h2>

The development is a joint-venture bringing together 11 of Japan's top real estate firms.

A spokeswoman for one of the firms, Mitsui Fudosan Co, told AFP: "We are&nbsp;hurriedly assessing the impact of the postponement of the Olympics with companies and officials involved in the project."

The sale of the second batch of units has been delayed from March to June or later, said another official at the company, insisting this was "due to the effect of the new coronavirus. It's nothing to do with a possible postponement of the Olympics".&nbsp;

Ward said that while uncertainty hung over both buyers and developers, the situation was better than the limbo they faced before the International Olympic Committee and Japan's unprecedented decision.

"Once the government gets a clear schedule (for the Games to go ahead), then the project will start doing active sales again. Up until (the night before the decision), I think it was worse for buyers because no one knew what they were doing," she said.

"I feel like it's good news because a cancellation would be far worse for everyone's attitude and general feeling. I think an extension is the best thing we could have. Going through with it would be terrible and cancelling it would be worse."

Hundreds of luxury apartments overlooking Tokyo Bay that were due to be converted from the Athletes' Village have already been sold -- just one of the many headaches caused by the historic postponement of the Tokyo Olympics.

Hundreds of luxury apartments overlooking Tokyo Bay that were due to be converted from the Athletes' Village have already been sold -- just one of the many headaches caused by the historic postponement of the Tokyo Olympics. Touted by developers as a "flagship neighbourhood for urban lifestyles", the buildings housing the 11,000 competitors were to be hastily repurposed into more than 4,000 condos with stunning city views, some carrying a price tag of 170 million yen ($1.5 million). The decision to postpone the Games by up to a year has pitched buyers into uncertainty, according to Zoe Ward, director of Tokyo Property Central, with close to 900 units already snapped up. "Even if it's not a financial hit, it's going to be a big inconvenience to them," Ward told AFP. She added that buyers would now be scouring the small print of their contracts to see if they can pull out without losing their deposits -- usually around five percent. "The wording they put in the contract is pretty vague, it normally says natural disasters or anything outside the sellers' control so it might fall under that category," said the property expert. One buyer, a man in his 30s, had been planning to move into the development in March 2023 with his wife and children and told AFP there were "many, many scenarios" that could now arise. However, he was relatively zen about the delay given the unprecedented coronavirus situation. "I'm not so stupid as to see the coronavirus effect as being a problem on the same level as a construction defect. I would say it can't be helped. I'm sure the selling side is facing a hard time," said the man, who declined to be named. - 'Double whammy' - Tomohiro Makino, CEO of consulting firm Oraga Research and an expert on Japanese real estate, told AFP that developers faced a "double whammy" of a falling market generally and image problems with the Olympic Village project. "There is a concern prices could drop. If excitement and anticipation (about the Olympics) fades away, the situation will be severe for the selling side. For now, cancellations are a critical problem for them," said Makino. One of the biggest draws -- being part of the Olympic legacy -- could now be tarnished, he added. He said developers should have legal cover from a force majeure clause but given the high profile of the project, they may be inclined to show flexibility -- especially as only a quarter of the units have been put up for sale. "The selling side has been forced into making a tough decision," he said. Sellers had marketed the development, which comprises 23 tower blocks capable of housing up to 12,000 people, as "the city complex where everything begins" with views of the ocean, Tokyo Tower and the metropolis' glittering skyline. The 18-hectare (45 acre) plot would also feature schools, a playground, swimming pool and gym. As the apartments are renovated from elite athletes' accommodation, they are also slightly bigger than average Tokyo flats, which tend to be on the small side. "Looking from the sky, the new neighbourhood appears like a large flag right in the middle of Tokyo. It has limitless potential as a new flagship model for urban lifestyles," according to the promotional material. - 'Clear schedule' - The development is a joint-venture bringing together 11 of Japan's top real estate firms. A spokeswoman for one of the firms, Mitsui Fudosan Co, told AFP: "We are hurriedly assessing the impact of the postponement of the Olympics with companies and officials involved in the project." The sale of the second batch of units has been delayed from March to June or later, said another official at the company, insisting this was "due to the effect of the new coronavirus. It's nothing to do with a possible postponement of the Olympics". Ward said that while uncertainty hung over both buyers and developers, the situation was better than the limbo they faced before the International Olympic Committee and Japan's unprecedented decision. "Once the government gets a clear schedule (for the Games to go ahead), then the project will start doing active sales again. Up until (the night before the decision), I think it was worse for buyers because no one knew what they were doing," she said. "I feel like it's good news because a cancellation would be far worse for everyone's attitude and general feeling. I think an extension is the best thing we could have. Going through with it would be terrible and cancelling it would be worse."

A concrete problem: Olympic delay spells limbo on Athletes' Village

Relief and finally a sense of closure as athletes around the world are no longer going to have to risk the health and safety of their families to pursue their Olympic dreams.

The postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to an unspecified date next year had been widely expected, in the end, both japan and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had to bow down to unprecedented rebellion from the sporting community.

“We felt under pressure to train, we felt under pressure to compete because obviously the Olympics is a few months away and we need to obviously kind of train ourselves and not de-train and some athletes would go into those facilities and put other people at risk,” Adam peaty, 2016 Olympic champion, swimming, said.

"It's a bummer, it's a bummer that I won't be able to compete in the Olympics this year, but you have to understand the situation, understand that some things are a little bigger than sport, and I guess we'll have it next year,” Pole Vault world record holder, Mondo Duplantis said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/postponed-tokyo-olympics-will-need-sacrifes-and-compromises-from-all-stakeholders-ioc-president-thomas-bach-288443">Postponed Tokyo Olympics will need 'sacrifices and compromises' from all stakeholders: IOC president Thomas Bach</a>

The global sporting calendar has been virtually decimated by the coronavirus pandemic since the start of February.

A decision to postpone the Olympic games is never easy, Tokyo will go down in history as the first games to have been postponed in peacetime…

There are millions of hotel rooms and thousands of flights that have been booked by athletes, officials, sponsors and fans and the media...

Japan has spent more than 12.5 billion dollars on the games till now and it is bound to rise exponentially now. There are thousands of critical games staff who have been employed in Tokyo and face an uncertain future. Pushing back the games was easy, what follows afterwards is a logistical nightmare

The Olympic flame, which arrived in Japan a couple of days ago, will stay in Japan until the games will finally begin. And we also agreed that the name will be kept as 'Olympic Games Tokyo 2020', again to show our commitment and the highly symbolic meaning of these Olympic Games who then hopefully can and will be, in the end, a celebration of humankind having overcome this unprecedented challenge of the coronavirus," IOC president Thomas Cach had said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/covid-19-hits-olympics-what-could-2020-tokyo-games-postponement-cost-japan-288403">COVID-19 hits Olympics: What could 2020 Tokyo Games postponement cost Japan?</a>

As the magnitude of the decision settles down, new questions are bound to emerge. Will the existing qualification criteria for the games remain in place?

Qualification for the games began in 2018 in some sports and more than 58% of the field had already qualified. Is it fair for those athletes to hold on to those spots for 3 years?

Is the IOC willing to risk the 2021 Games clashing with marquee sporting events such as the tennis grand slams, the golf majors and even major footballing events?

Will the top professional sporting stars of golf, football and tennis turn up for the games?

Can legends like Roger Federer, Alysson Felix, Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, MC Mary Kom and others extend their careers by a year?

"As someone who had experienced the boycott of the Moscow Olympics, even if it the unexpected happens don't crumble, don't give up, motivate yourself once more, stay young at heart. I hope they will take on the challenge next year," Yasuhiro Yamashita, Japan Olympics Committee president had urged the athletes.

The Olympics are the stage where legends are forged and sporting immortality is achieved. When the Games are held next year, the world will have new Olympic champions.

But they will also be remembered as a celebration of humanity, a coming together of the world after a period of immense tragedy.

Relief and finally a sense of closure as athletes around the world are no longer going to have to risk the health and safety of their families to pursue their Olympic dreams.

Relief and finally a sense of closure as athletes around the world are no longer going to have to risk the health and safety of their families to pursue their Olympic dreams. The postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to an unspecified date next year had been widely expected, in the end, both japan and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had to bow down to unprecedented rebellion from the sporting community. “We felt under pressure to train, we felt under pressure to compete because obviously the Olympics is a few months away and we need to obviously kind of train ourselves and not de-train and some athletes would go into those facilities and put other people at risk,” Adam peaty, 2016 Olympic champion, swimming, said. "It's a bummer, it's a bummer that I won't be able to compete in the Olympics this year, but you have to understand the situation, understand that some things are a little bigger than sport, and I guess we'll have it next year,” Pole Vault world record holder, Mondo Duplantis said. ALSO READ: Postponed Tokyo Olympics will need 'sacrifices and compromises' from all stakeholders: IOC president Thomas Bach The global sporting calendar has been virtually decimated by the coronavirus pandemic since the start of February. A decision to postpone the Olympic games is never easy, Tokyo will go down in history as the first games to have been postponed in peacetime… There are millions of hotel rooms and thousands of flights that have been booked by athletes, officials, sponsors and fans and the media... Japan has spent more than 12.5 billion dollars on the games till now and it is bound to rise exponentially now. There are thousands of critical games staff who have been employed in Tokyo and face an uncertain future. Pushing back the games was easy, what follows afterwards is a logistical nightmare The Olympic flame, which arrived in Japan a couple of days ago, will stay in Japan until the games will finally begin. And we also agreed that the name will be kept as 'Olympic Games Tokyo 2020', again to show our commitment and the highly symbolic meaning of these Olympic Games who then hopefully can and will be, in the end, a celebration of humankind having overcome this unprecedented challenge of the coronavirus," IOC president Thomas Cach had said. ALSO READ: COVID-19 hits Olympics: What could 2020 Tokyo Games postponement cost Japan? As the magnitude of the decision settles down, new questions are bound to emerge. Will the existing qualification criteria for the games remain in place? Qualification for the games began in 2018 in some sports and more than 58% of the field had already qualified. Is it fair for those athletes to hold on to those spots for 3 years? Is the IOC willing to risk the 2021 Games clashing with marquee sporting events such as the tennis grand slams, the golf majors and even major footballing events? Will the top professional sporting stars of golf, football and tennis turn up for the games? Can legends like Roger Federer, Alysson Felix, Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, MC Mary Kom and others extend their careers by a year? "As someone who had experienced the boycott of the Moscow Olympics, even if it the unexpected happens don't crumble, don't give up, motivate yourself once more, stay young at heart. I hope they will take on the challenge next year," Yasuhiro Yamashita, Japan Olympics Committee president had urged the athletes. The Olympics are the stage where legends are forged and sporting immortality is achieved. When the Games are held next year, the world will have new Olympic champions. But they will also be remembered as a celebration of humanity, a coming together of the world after a period of immense tragedy.

Olympics postponed to 2021 but what next?

The International Olympic Committee came under pressure to speed up its decision about postponing the Tokyo Games on Tuesday as athletes criticised the four-week deadline and the United States joined calls to delay the competition.

After Canada and Australia withdrew their teams, with the world hunkering down for the coronavirus pandemic, the US Olympic committee said postponement was the best way forward.

A growing group of national Olympic committees and sports bodies including World Athletics have called for the Games, set to start on July 24, to be pushed back, an outcome that now appears inevitable.

IOC officials are studying a postponement, among other options, but still believe a decision would be "premature" four months from the scheduled start. They will make an announcement within four weeks.

"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," senior IOC official Dick Pound told AFP.&nbsp;

"So you're looking at the 'P' word -- postponement."

The US statement came after a survey of 1,780 US athletes found an overwhelming majority, 68 percent, backed postponement.

The virus lockdown has shut down competition, including Olympic qualifiers, and made training not just difficult but also dangerous, as athletes risk contracting or spreading COVID-19.

<h2>- 'Unacceptable, irresponsible' -</h2>

Several countries have imposed strict stay-at-home orders and international travel has been drastically curtailed as worldwide deaths surge past 16,500 and confirmed cases surpass 378,000.

"Our most important conclusion from this broad athlete response is that even if the current significant health concerns could be alleviated by late summer, the enormous disruptions to the training environment, doping controls and qualification process can't be overcome in a satisfactory manner," the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said.

USA Gymnastics also said it was "adding our voice to the chorus advocating for postponement", after USA Swimming and USA Track and Field had already urged the US Olympic committee to press for a delay.

Meanwhile, British Olympic Association chairman Hugh Robertson told Sky Sports News: "If the virus continues as predicted by the government, I don't think there is any way we can send a team."&nbsp;

With opposition to the July start reaching deafening levels, athletes questioned why the IOC needed weeks to come to a decision. The Olympic torch relay is due to start in Japan on Thursday.

"Such a response is unacceptable, irresponsible, and once again ignores the rights of athletes," Global Athlete, an organisation which aims to speak for sports competitors, said in a statement.

British cyclist Callum Skinner strongly criticised IOC president Thomas Bach, accusing him of placing his own interests first.&nbsp;

"Bach's stubbornness and arrogance has spectacularly failed in this instance and he has weakened the Olympic movement," Skinner wrote on Twitter.

"This isn't the first time he has put his own motives above the athletes and the movement."

<h2>- 'Dither and delay' -</h2>

British hurdler Dai Greene said the "dither and delay" was "obscene" while Ed Warner, the chairman-designate of British wheelchair rugby, said the IOC had misjudged the mood.

"The IOC has said it will make a decision in four weeks," he told the Guardian. "It hasn't got that long. It probably has only got four days.&nbsp;

"The right thing for the IOC to do is to announce it will postpone the Games immediately -– and then use the next couple of weeks to decide when it will be. Athletes have led the way on this and the IOC have trailed far behind them. That has to change."

World Athletics said it was prepared to shift its world championships, scheduled for August 6-15 next year in Oregon, to accommodate a potential Olympics next summer, seen as the most likely option.

But experts warn shifting the Tokyo Games, which are seven years in the planning and have a price tag of $12.6 billion, is no simple matter.

"It is mind-bogglingly complex to make a sudden change after seven years of preparation for the biggest sporting event in the world," Michael Payne, the IOC's former head of marketing, told AFP.

The International Olympic Committee came under pressure to speed up its decision about postponing the Tokyo Games on Tuesday as athletes criticised the four-week deadline and the United States joined calls to delay the competition.

The International Olympic Committee came under pressure to speed up its decision about postponing the Tokyo Games on Tuesday as athletes criticised the four-week deadline and the United States joined calls to delay the competition. After Canada and Australia withdrew their teams, with the world hunkering down for the coronavirus pandemic, the US Olympic committee said postponement was the best way forward. A growing group of national Olympic committees and sports bodies including World Athletics have called for the Games, set to start on July 24, to be pushed back, an outcome that now appears inevitable. IOC officials are studying a postponement, among other options, but still believe a decision would be "premature" four months from the scheduled start. They will make an announcement within four weeks. "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," senior IOC official Dick Pound told AFP. "So you're looking at the 'P' word -- postponement." The US statement came after a survey of 1,780 US athletes found an overwhelming majority, 68 percent, backed postponement. The virus lockdown has shut down competition, including Olympic qualifiers, and made training not just difficult but also dangerous, as athletes risk contracting or spreading COVID-19. - 'Unacceptable, irresponsible' - Several countries have imposed strict stay-at-home orders and international travel has been drastically curtailed as worldwide deaths surge past 16,500 and confirmed cases surpass 378,000. "Our most important conclusion from this broad athlete response is that even if the current significant health concerns could be alleviated by late summer, the enormous disruptions to the training environment, doping controls and qualification process can't be overcome in a satisfactory manner," the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said. USA Gymnastics also said it was "adding our voice to the chorus advocating for postponement", after USA Swimming and USA Track and Field had already urged the US Olympic committee to press for a delay. Meanwhile, British Olympic Association chairman Hugh Robertson told Sky Sports News: "If the virus continues as predicted by the government, I don't think there is any way we can send a team." With opposition to the July start reaching deafening levels, athletes questioned why the IOC needed weeks to come to a decision. The Olympic torch relay is due to start in Japan on Thursday. "Such a response is unacceptable, irresponsible, and once again ignores the rights of athletes," Global Athlete, an organisation which aims to speak for sports competitors, said in a statement. British cyclist Callum Skinner strongly criticised IOC president Thomas Bach, accusing him of placing his own interests first. "Bach's stubbornness and arrogance has spectacularly failed in this instance and he has weakened the Olympic movement," Skinner wrote on Twitter. "This isn't the first time he has put his own motives above the athletes and the movement." - 'Dither and delay' - British hurdler Dai Greene said the "dither and delay" was "obscene" while Ed Warner, the chairman-designate of British wheelchair rugby, said the IOC had misjudged the mood. "The IOC has said it will make a decision in four weeks," he told the Guardian. "It hasn't got that long. It probably has only got four days. "The right thing for the IOC to do is to announce it will postpone the Games immediately -– and then use the next couple of weeks to decide when it will be. Athletes have led the way on this and the IOC have trailed far behind them. That has to change." World Athletics said it was prepared to shift its world championships, scheduled for August 6-15 next year in Oregon, to accommodate a potential Olympics next summer, seen as the most likely option. But experts warn shifting the Tokyo Games, which are seven years in the planning and have a price tag of $12.6 billion, is no simple matter. "It is mind-bogglingly complex to make a sudden change after seven years of preparation for the biggest sporting event in the world," Michael Payne, the IOC's former head of marketing, told AFP.

IOC urged to make quick Olympic decision as US backs postponement

In what comes as a landmark piece of news, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed to no later than the summer of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Games were scheduled to start from July 24 but after discussions with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the historic decision was taken to postpone the Tokyo Olympics to 2021.&nbsp;

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has welcomed the joint decision to postpone the Games by one year as the IOA announced that it would be holding meetings with athletes, NSFs, sponsors to revise the preparations for the quadrennial event. IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said that the decision to delay the Games will relieve Indian athletes of worries of having to train during the epidemic.&nbsp;

"IOA welcomes the decision of IOC and #Tokyo2020. Soon after the lockdown is over, IOA would be holding meetings with Athletes, NSFs, Sponsors, etc. to revise preparations. This decision today, relieves our athletes of worries of having to train now during the epidemic," IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said in a statement.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ioc-japan-agree-to-postpone-2020-tokyo-olympics-by-one-year-to-be-held-no-later-than-summer-of-2021-288259">IOC, Japan agree to postpone 2020 Tokyo Olympics by one year, to be held 'no later than summer of 2021'</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
"IOA welcomes the decision of IOC and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a>. Soon after the lock down is over, IOA would be holding meetings with Athletes, NSFs, Sponsors, etc. to revise preparations." <a href="https://t.co/ANr5chtlnF">https://t.co/ANr5chtlnF</a>
— NOC India (@WeAreTeamIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/WeAreTeamIndia/status/1242446665312694272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Furthermore, the Olympic torch relay, which was scheduled to start from March 26 has been suspended. "The Olympic torch relay, which was scheduled to start from 26th (March), will not start," Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori told reporters.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/have-the-summer-olympics-ever-been-cancelled-a-look-back-at-history-as-dark-clouds-hover-over-2020-tokyo-games-288231">Have the Summer Olympics ever been cancelled? A look back at history</a>

Earlier on Tuesday, a joint statement was issued after the meeting between Bach and Abe as the pair said that based on the current information by the World Health Organization, the Tokyo Games "must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community".

"The leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present.

"Therefore, it was agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in Japan. It was also agreed that the Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020," the statement concluded.

In what comes as a landmark piece of news, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed to no later than the summer of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Games were scheduled to start from July 24 but after discussions with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the historic decision was taken to postpone the Tokyo Olympics to 2021.

In what comes as a landmark piece of news, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed to no later than the summer of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Games were scheduled to start from July 24 but after discussions with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the historic decision was taken to postpone the Tokyo Olympics to 2021. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has welcomed the joint decision to postpone the Games by one year as the IOA announced that it would be holding meetings with athletes, NSFs, sponsors to revise the preparations for the quadrennial event. IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said that the decision to delay the Games will relieve Indian athletes of worries of having to train during the epidemic. "IOA welcomes the decision of IOC and #Tokyo2020. Soon after the lockdown is over, IOA would be holding meetings with Athletes, NSFs, Sponsors, etc. to revise preparations. This decision today, relieves our athletes of worries of having to train now during the epidemic," IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said in a statement. ALSO READ: IOC, Japan agree to postpone 2020 Tokyo Olympics by one year, to be held 'no later than summer of 2021' "IOA welcomes the decision of IOC and #Tokyo2020. Soon after the lock down is over, IOA would be holding meetings with Athletes, NSFs, Sponsors, etc. to revise preparations." https://t.co/ANr5chtlnF — NOC India (@WeAreTeamIndia) March 24, 2020 × Furthermore, the Olympic torch relay, which was scheduled to start from March 26 has been suspended. "The Olympic torch relay, which was scheduled to start from 26th (March), will not start," Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori told reporters. ALSO READ: Have the Summer Olympics ever been cancelled? A look back at history Earlier on Tuesday, a joint statement was issued after the meeting between Bach and Abe as the pair said that based on the current information by the World Health Organization, the Tokyo Games "must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community". "The leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present. "Therefore, it was agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in Japan. It was also agreed that the Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020," the statement concluded.

'This decision relieves our athletes of worries' - IOA welcomes decision to postpone Tokyo Olympics to 2021

The Olympic flame arrived in Japan to a scaled-down welcoming ceremony Friday as doubts grew over whether the Tokyo Games will go ahead on schedule with the coronavirus pandemic causing chaos around the world.

As the flame, enclosed in a special lantern, landed on a charter flight, a Japanese Olympic Committee member broke ranks to call for a postponement and Olympics chief Thomas Bach admitted "different scenarios" were under consideration.

"Of course we are considering different scenarios, but we are contrary to many other sports organisations or professional leagues in that we are four-and-a-half months away from the Games," Bach, the International Olympic Committee president, told the New York Times.

"For us, (postponement) would not be responsible now and it would be premature to start speculation or make a decision at a time when we do not have any recommendation from the task force," he added.

Reflecting the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, the flame's arrival at Matsushima Air Base in Japan's north was a muted affair after organisers were forced to cancel plans to invite 200 schoolchildren.

Former Olympic judo champions Saori Yoshida and Tadahiro Nomura lit a ceremonial cauldron in front of a few dozen officials and guests.

"Children had planned to welcome the Olympic flame, but we decided to scale it down, giving priority to their safety," said Tokyo 2020 chief Yoshiro Mori.

The nationwide torch relay begins on March 26, starting from the J-Village sports complex in Fukushima that was used as a base for workers during the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

But organisers have been forced to scale back the relay, closing daily ceremonies to the public and urging spectators to "avoid forming crowds" along the route.

<h2>- Olympics 'should be postponed' -</h2>

Speculation has been growing over the Games, scheduled to start on July 24, after the COVID-19 outbreak closed sports competitions around the world and paralysed many countries, along with international travel.

The virus has already disrupted the early stages of the torch's journey in Greece, with the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia taking place without spectators.

Organisers then had to scrap the Greek leg of the relay after large crowds mobbed Hollywood actor Gerard Butler as he lit a cauldron in the city of Sparta.

With borders shut in Europe -- which has become the epicentre of the crisis -- Tokyo officials did not travel to collect the torch, with former Olympic swimmer Naoko Imoto representing Japan at the official handover.

As the flame landed, there are increasing clouds over the Games, with some athletes attacking the IOC for insisting there's no need for "drastic" action such as postponement or cancellation.

Japanese Olympic Committee executive board member Kaori Yamaguchi, a former Olympic judoka, was the latest prominent figure to call for a postponement, citing the difficulties faced by athletes.

"It should be postponed under the current situation where athletes are not well prepared," Yamaguchi told the Nikkei daily.

"By asking them to train under these conditions, the IOC is opening itself up the criticism that it is not putting athletes first," she added.

Bach, under fire after the IOC advised athletes to continue training "as best they can", insisted health considerations were "first and foremost" -- and that the decision won't be driven by financial interest.

"What makes this crisis so unique and so difficult to overcome is the uncertainty. Nobody today can tell you what the developments are tomorrow, what they are in one month, not to mention in more than four months," he said.

"Therefore it would not be responsible in any way to set a date or take a decision right now, which would be based on the speculation about the future developments."

Bach said the IOC will act on advice from its own task force and the World Health Organization, but was optimistic about holding the Games on time. He added that there was no question of a cancellation.

The Olympic flame arrived in Japan to a scaled-down welcoming ceremony Friday as doubts grew over whether the Tokyo Games will go ahead on schedule with the coronavirus pandemic causing chaos around the world.

The Olympic flame arrived in Japan to a scaled-down welcoming ceremony Friday as doubts grew over whether the Tokyo Games will go ahead on schedule with the coronavirus pandemic causing chaos around the world. As the flame, enclosed in a special lantern, landed on a charter flight, a Japanese Olympic Committee member broke ranks to call for a postponement and Olympics chief Thomas Bach admitted "different scenarios" were under consideration. "Of course we are considering different scenarios, but we are contrary to many other sports organisations or professional leagues in that we are four-and-a-half months away from the Games," Bach, the International Olympic Committee president, told the New York Times. "For us, (postponement) would not be responsible now and it would be premature to start speculation or make a decision at a time when we do not have any recommendation from the task force," he added. Reflecting the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, the flame's arrival at Matsushima Air Base in Japan's north was a muted affair after organisers were forced to cancel plans to invite 200 schoolchildren. Former Olympic judo champions Saori Yoshida and Tadahiro Nomura lit a ceremonial cauldron in front of a few dozen officials and guests. "Children had planned to welcome the Olympic flame, but we decided to scale it down, giving priority to their safety," said Tokyo 2020 chief Yoshiro Mori. The nationwide torch relay begins on March 26, starting from the J-Village sports complex in Fukushima that was used as a base for workers during the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. But organisers have been forced to scale back the relay, closing daily ceremonies to the public and urging spectators to "avoid forming crowds" along the route. - Olympics 'should be postponed' - Speculation has been growing over the Games, scheduled to start on July 24, after the COVID-19 outbreak closed sports competitions around the world and paralysed many countries, along with international travel. The virus has already disrupted the early stages of the torch's journey in Greece, with the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia taking place without spectators. Organisers then had to scrap the Greek leg of the relay after large crowds mobbed Hollywood actor Gerard Butler as he lit a cauldron in the city of Sparta. With borders shut in Europe -- which has become the epicentre of the crisis -- Tokyo officials did not travel to collect the torch, with former Olympic swimmer Naoko Imoto representing Japan at the official handover. As the flame landed, there are increasing clouds over the Games, with some athletes attacking the IOC for insisting there's no need for "drastic" action such as postponement or cancellation. Japanese Olympic Committee executive board member Kaori Yamaguchi, a former Olympic judoka, was the latest prominent figure to call for a postponement, citing the difficulties faced by athletes. "It should be postponed under the current situation where athletes are not well prepared," Yamaguchi told the Nikkei daily. "By asking them to train under these conditions, the IOC is opening itself up the criticism that it is not putting athletes first," she added. Bach, under fire after the IOC advised athletes to continue training "as best they can", insisted health considerations were "first and foremost" -- and that the decision won't be driven by financial interest. "What makes this crisis so unique and so difficult to overcome is the uncertainty. Nobody today can tell you what the developments are tomorrow, what they are in one month, not to mention in more than four months," he said. "Therefore it would not be responsible in any way to set a date or take a decision right now, which would be based on the speculation about the future developments." Bach said the IOC will act on advice from its own task force and the World Health Organization, but was optimistic about holding the Games on time. He added that there was no question of a cancellation.

Olympic flame gets muted welcome in Japan as Games doubts grow

The Olympics going ahead in Tokyo this year is "highly unlikely", the boss of Asian golf told AFP, and proceeding as planned could cost players the chance to qualify.

The International Olympic Committee said this week it was "fully committed" to holding the Games from July 24 despite the coronavirus pandemic, but acknowledged there was no "ideal" solution as pressure mounted for a postponement.

Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant confirmed that all tournaments across the continent had been suspended until at least the end of May, in line with the US PGA and European Tours.

"I think everyone right now is more in a state of shock, just trying to figure out what they do with themselves," said Cho, speaking by telephone from Asian Tour headquarters in Singapore.&nbsp;

With the prospect of scarcely any competitive golf before the Olympic rankings qualifying cut-off on June 22, Cho said it would be harsh on players from unheralded golf nations.

"Our plan initially was to have about 16 or 17 tournaments before the Olympic cut-off," Cho said. "Today, we probably have only about four or five Asian Tour players eligible for the Olympics."

<h2>- Olympics 'highly unlikely' -</h2>

On current rankings, only Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond and Gunn Charoenkul, the Indian pair of Rashid Khan and Udayan Mane plus Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines would represent the Asian Tour in the 60-strong Tokyo field.

"Given the amount of golf that was left to be played, we were hopeful that more players from nations like Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines would have the opportunity to get into the Olympics over the next two or three months," said Cho.&nbsp;

"Obviously, that's not going to happen.&nbsp;

"I can understand why they would want to push forward with the Olympics -- there'd be huge revenue ramifications on the economy of Japan --&nbsp;but it seems highly unlikely now in my opinion."

Cho said that he hadn't yet heard of any players suffering financial hardship but acknowledged that a long layoff could have an impact.

Players such as the world number 39 Jazz, last year's Asian Tour order of merit winner, will remain in the US where he had been due to play a full schedule before a debut at the now-postponed US Masters next month.

"I keep in contact with quite a few players and a lot of them are comfortable," Cho said.&nbsp;

"I feel for the guys who just came through qualifying school and they've probably played one or two events in their life.

"It's very different to having a bad season where you're missing cuts, but you still have got the opportunity to compete.&nbsp;

"Right now you're deprived of the opportunity to compete. That's a whole different ballgame."&nbsp;

<h2>- Calendar shift -</h2>

The Asian Tour can play all-year round, which means the crisis could lead to a permanent shift in the Asian golfing calendar to a wraparound season played from September to April.

"A tour like Europe's going to have a lot harder time rescheduling events. Theirs is a very short golf season," Cho said.&nbsp;

"I'm hoping that we can continue golf this year, whether it be July, September, October or November. It will definitely help mitigate the potential downside.

"If we could start between July and October, it means we will probably go through to April. We've been planning a wraparound season for the longest time but never really formalised it.

"We're talking to sponsors and promoters. They're definitely ready to go. They're prepared to stage events whenever the world is ready to get back to normal."

The Olympics going ahead in Tokyo this year is "highly unlikely", the boss of Asian golf told AFP, and proceeding as planned could cost players the chance to qualify.

The Olympics going ahead in Tokyo this year is "highly unlikely", the boss of Asian golf told AFP, and proceeding as planned could cost players the chance to qualify. The International Olympic Committee said this week it was "fully committed" to holding the Games from July 24 despite the coronavirus pandemic, but acknowledged there was no "ideal" solution as pressure mounted for a postponement. Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant confirmed that all tournaments across the continent had been suspended until at least the end of May, in line with the US PGA and European Tours. "I think everyone right now is more in a state of shock, just trying to figure out what they do with themselves," said Cho, speaking by telephone from Asian Tour headquarters in Singapore. With the prospect of scarcely any competitive golf before the Olympic rankings qualifying cut-off on June 22, Cho said it would be harsh on players from unheralded golf nations. "Our plan initially was to have about 16 or 17 tournaments before the Olympic cut-off," Cho said. "Today, we probably have only about four or five Asian Tour players eligible for the Olympics." - Olympics 'highly unlikely' - On current rankings, only Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond and Gunn Charoenkul, the Indian pair of Rashid Khan and Udayan Mane plus Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines would represent the Asian Tour in the 60-strong Tokyo field. "Given the amount of golf that was left to be played, we were hopeful that more players from nations like Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines would have the opportunity to get into the Olympics over the next two or three months," said Cho. "Obviously, that's not going to happen. "I can understand why they would want to push forward with the Olympics -- there'd be huge revenue ramifications on the economy of Japan -- but it seems highly unlikely now in my opinion." Cho said that he hadn't yet heard of any players suffering financial hardship but acknowledged that a long layoff could have an impact. Players such as the world number 39 Jazz, last year's Asian Tour order of merit winner, will remain in the US where he had been due to play a full schedule before a debut at the now-postponed US Masters next month. "I keep in contact with quite a few players and a lot of them are comfortable," Cho said. "I feel for the guys who just came through qualifying school and they've probably played one or two events in their life. "It's very different to having a bad season where you're missing cuts, but you still have got the opportunity to compete. "Right now you're deprived of the opportunity to compete. That's a whole different ballgame." - Calendar shift - The Asian Tour can play all-year round, which means the crisis could lead to a permanent shift in the Asian golfing calendar to a wraparound season played from September to April. "A tour like Europe's going to have a lot harder time rescheduling events. Theirs is a very short golf season," Cho said. "I'm hoping that we can continue golf this year, whether it be July, September, October or November. It will definitely help mitigate the potential downside. "If we could start between July and October, it means we will probably go through to April. We've been planning a wraparound season for the longest time but never really formalised it. "We're talking to sponsors and promoters. They're definitely ready to go. They're prepared to stage events whenever the world is ready to get back to normal."

Asian golfers could lose out if Olympics go ahead: Tour chief

Japan Olympic Committee deputy chief Kozo Tashima said Tuesday he had contracted coronavirus, as doubts increase over whether Tokyo can safely host the Summer Games.

"Today, my test result showed positive for the new coronavirus," Tashima said in a statement, issued via the Japan Football Association, which he also heads.

"I have a mild fever. Examinations showed a symptom of pneumonia, but I'm fine. I will concentrate on treatment following doctors' advice," he said.

Japanese officials insist that the summer Games -- due to start in July -- will take place as scheduled despite rising speculation that it might be postponed or even cancelled due to the virus.

Tashima said he had been on a business trip since February 28, first heading to Belfast to attend the annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

From March 2, he visited Amsterdam for a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) meeting to give a presentation on Japan's bid for the 2023 women's World Cup.

And On March 3, he attended a general meeting of the same body.

"In Amsterdam and in Europe in early March, the level of nervousness against the novel coronavirus was not the same as now," he said in the statement.

"Everyone was still doing hugs, handshakes and bises (cheek kissing)."&nbsp;

He then travelled to the United States to watch the Japanese women's team in action and to lobby for the women's World Cup, before returning home on March 8.

"In the United States, too, the sense of crisis about the novel coronavirus was not as serious as now," he said.

Staff at the Japan FA have been working from home as a precaution against the virus, but Tashima said he went to the association building several times last week and attended meetings.

He began feeling chills and experienced a mild fever from Sunday. He went to a local public health centre on Monday and told them about his travel history.

During the UEFA gatherings, Tashima said he saw Swiss and Serbian football chiefs, who have tested positive for the virus, although he added it was not clear how he contracted the infection.

His positive test came out on Tuesday.

"I have chosen to face the illness as so many people are doing in Japan and around the world," he said, adding that he hoped his decision would help eradicate the stigma attached to the infection.

His announcement came as the Tokyo 2020 organising committee said it would scale down festivities related to the Olympic torch relay to prevent further spread of the virus.

The flame, which has already been lit in Greece, will arrive in northern Japan on Friday, with the torch relay slated to start on March 26 from Fukushima.

Japan Olympic Committee deputy chief Kozo Tashima said Tuesday he had contracted coronavirus, as doubts increase over whether Tokyo can safely host the Summer Games.

Japan Olympic Committee deputy chief Kozo Tashima said Tuesday he had contracted coronavirus, as doubts increase over whether Tokyo can safely host the Summer Games. "Today, my test result showed positive for the new coronavirus," Tashima said in a statement, issued via the Japan Football Association, which he also heads. "I have a mild fever. Examinations showed a symptom of pneumonia, but I'm fine. I will concentrate on treatment following doctors' advice," he said. Japanese officials insist that the summer Games -- due to start in July -- will take place as scheduled despite rising speculation that it might be postponed or even cancelled due to the virus. Tashima said he had been on a business trip since February 28, first heading to Belfast to attend the annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB). From March 2, he visited Amsterdam for a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) meeting to give a presentation on Japan's bid for the 2023 women's World Cup. And On March 3, he attended a general meeting of the same body. "In Amsterdam and in Europe in early March, the level of nervousness against the novel coronavirus was not the same as now," he said in the statement. "Everyone was still doing hugs, handshakes and bises (cheek kissing)." He then travelled to the United States to watch the Japanese women's team in action and to lobby for the women's World Cup, before returning home on March 8. "In the United States, too, the sense of crisis about the novel coronavirus was not as serious as now," he said. Staff at the Japan FA have been working from home as a precaution against the virus, but Tashima said he went to the association building several times last week and attended meetings. He began feeling chills and experienced a mild fever from Sunday. He went to a local public health centre on Monday and told them about his travel history. During the UEFA gatherings, Tashima said he saw Swiss and Serbian football chiefs, who have tested positive for the virus, although he added it was not clear how he contracted the infection. His positive test came out on Tuesday. "I have chosen to face the illness as so many people are doing in Japan and around the world," he said, adding that he hoped his decision would help eradicate the stigma attached to the infection. His announcement came as the Tokyo 2020 organising committee said it would scale down festivities related to the Olympic torch relay to prevent further spread of the virus. The flame, which has already been lit in Greece, will arrive in northern Japan on Friday, with the torch relay slated to start on March 26 from Fukushima.

'My test result showed positive for coronavirus': Japan Olympic Committee deputy head Kozo Tashima

olympics-news

Olympics News, News on Olympics News, stories on Olympics News, articles on Olympics News, Olympics News stories at Wion, Olympics News news, Olympics News latest news

olympics news