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Australia team to ‘wait and see’ on Olympics as virus fears rise
SYDNEY, Feb 27, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Athletes preparing for the Tokyo Olympics
will have to “wait and see” whether the Games go ahead as concerns soar about
the coronavirus, the head of Australia’s team said Thursday.
Despite reassurances from Tokyo organisers that all plans were on track,
chef de mission Ian Chesterman said the ultimate decision would be made by
the International Olympic Committee.
“It’s a huge operation, the Olympic Games, so nobody wants to cancel the
Games, that’s for sure,” Chesterman said in Sydney, after announcing members
of Australia’s sailing team, which plans to head to Tokyo in late May.
Although the Olympics are scheduled to open on July 24 and the Paralympics
on August 25, many teams are planning to arrive earlier as part of their
final preparations.
“We really need to wait and see what happens over the next month or two
months as things develop,” Chesterman said.
Sports events around the world have been hit by the outbreak, with the
postponement of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix and Ireland’s Six Nations
rugby match with Italy in Dublin on March 7.
Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said “there is no call
at the moment” according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“We have cancelled Games in the past at war time,” Coates said. “A lot of
countries didn’t go for other reasons to Moscow (in 1980). A lot didn’t go to
Los Angeles (1984),” he said.
“It’s just a matter of monitoring how this plays out.”
The Japanese government also recommended major events be scaled back,
postponed or cancelled over the next fortnight as the virus spread.
But athletes remain unshaken, according to Chesterman.
“Remarkably, you might think, I haven’t had any phone calls… everyone’s
just getting on with the job and working on the basis that their moment is
going to happen on July 24,” he said.
Sailor William Phillips, who will be competing alongside his brother Sam,
agreed.
“At this stage I am not worried at all really. Obviously it’s not something
that I can control and so we have got a fair bit on our plate just getting
prepared,” Phillips told AFP.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1054 hrs