The biggest sporting event of the year the quadrennial sporting event Olympics is likely to be postponed. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics may be shifted to the end of the year from the scheduled dates. Japanese Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto informed.
The reason for this is the spread of deadly coronavirus. The virus which has so far affected people in 60 countries spreads in a large public gathering. Since athletes from the countries affected would also come there is a high chance of virus spreading faster. Along with the summer Olympics, the Paralympic Games may also be postponed.
Responding to a question in the Japanese parliament Hashimoto said, ” Tokyo’s contract with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) calls for the Games to be held within 2020″. This allows for the postponement she said. However, nothing official has been said by the authorities in this regard.
At present, the games are scheduled from 24 July to 9 August in Tokyo. The plan is to shift the event to the end of the year. “We are doing all we can to ensure that the Games go ahead as planned,” Hashimoto added. International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has said that his organization remains “very confident with regard to the success” of the Games in Tokyo.
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However, as the virus is a acquiring deadly face and just around 3 months are left for the event the pushing of dates is possible. This can be expected as high-profile sporting events like the World Athletics Indoor Athletics Championships and the Chinese Grand Prix have been already canceled.
