'Can't see how it can happen': Olympics chief's concerning call

17 March 2020 at 12:12 am·2-min read

Unless the coronavirus pandemic is on the wane by the end of May, this year's Tokyo Olympic Games cannot be staged on schedule.

That's according to the head of the French Olympic Committee, Denis Masseglia, who admits he retains a sense of optimism after returning from a recent trip to Japan.

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"My feeling is that if we're still in the crisis by the end of May I can't see how the Games can happen (on time)," Masseglia said in a telephone interview with Reuters on Monday.

"If we are beyond the peak and the situation is getting better questions will arise about who qualifies, but we will find the least worst solution."

Locals in Tokyo wear face masks in response to the coronavirus pandemic. — The coronavirus pandemic has cast doubt over whether the Tokyo Games will go ahead as scheduled. Pic: Getty

Masseglia, who returned from a work trip to Japan, added that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will hold a conference call with the National Olympic Committees on Wednesday.

The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled for July 24-August 9 with the Paralympic Games due to be held from August 25-Sept 6.

The coronavirus pandemic has infected almost 180,000 people and killed over 7000 worldwide, with the epicentre having switched from China to Europe.

Sports competitions have come to a halt in Europe as part of a global effort to contain the spread of coronavirus, hampering the preparations of athletes for the Olympics.

"At some points we're going to have to tell them something (about the Games), Masseglia said.

Japan taking strict precautions over coronavirus

Masseglia, head of the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) since 2009, said however that Japan had been tackling the spread of the virus perfectly.

"A week ago, I couldn't even imagine the situation we're in today (in Europe). When I came back on Saturday morning (from Japan) I came back confident, optimistic, telling myself the Japanese had handled the problem a little differently," he said.

"They are in extreme precaution, there are water-based gels everywhere. Everybody wears a mask, they work almost normally."

Japan has had 895 cases of coronavirus, while the total in Italy, Europe's worst-hit country, had reached 27,980 on Monday.

"If we are out of the crisis in a couple of months everybody will want to get back to normal, it will speed things up and we will be able to imagine something," said Masseglia.