LAUSANNE, May 27, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Olympic chief Thomas Bach on
Wednesday held a series of talks with International Olympic Committee
members on the potential consequences of the coronavirus pandemic that
has seen the Tokyo Games pushed back a year to 2021, sources said.
Bach was to address the 100 IOC members in three different sessions
decided by language and local time zone.
Bach’s aim is to canvas the members for their view on “how to
handle the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic”, a source told
AFP.
The IOC president wants to hear “thoughts, ideas and experiences of
all members across the globe”, it added.
While Bach addressed all Olympic actors on March 24 when announcing
the postponement of the Tokyo Games, it is the first time since the
COVID-19 outbreak that he has specifically consulted IOC members.
Bach was backed up by Olympic Games executive director Christophe
Dubi, IOC sports director Kit McConnell, IOC director general
Christophe De Kepper and chief operating officer Lana Haddad.
The IOC’s medical and scientific director, Richard Budgett, also
took to the floor to discuss “the issue of a vaccine”, according to a
second source.
Bach warned last week that 2021 was the “last option” for holding
the delayed Tokyo Games, stressing that postponement cannot go on
forever.
He said he backed Japan’s stance that the Games will have to be
cancelled if the coronavirus pandemic isn’t under control by next
year.
The German wouldn’t say, however, whether a vaccine was a
prerequisite for going ahead with the Olympics, but was lukewarm on
the idea of holding them without fans.
In March, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were postponed to July 23, 2021
over the coronavirus, which has killed hundreds of thousands around
the world and halted international sport and travel. It was the first
peacetime postponement of the Olympics.
The IOC has already set aside $800 million to help organisers and
sports federations meet the extra costs of a postponed Olympics.
According to the latest budget, the Games were due to cost $12.6
billion, shared between the organising committee, the government of
Japan and Tokyo city.