IOC says games will happen ‘with or without Covid’

The International Olympic Committee wants the world to be clear: not to postpone the Olympic Games again. In fact, as uncomfortable as it may seem right now given that more than 27 million coronavirus Cases have been reported around the world, the IOC has said the games will take place “without or without covid.”

According to AFP and Deadline, IOC Vice President John Coates said Monday that the Olympics would begin on July 23 in Tokyo, Japan, next year. Coates specifically addressed the ongoing pandemic we live in, but only to say that the sporting event would be called the “Games That Conquered Covid.”

“It will take place with or without Covid. The games will begin on July 23 of next year, ”Coates said.

Taking into account that a) we do not have a vaccine against covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, and yes) even when we do have one things will not return to “normal” Right off the bat, it’s hard to believe that these will be the games that “conquered Covid.”

This does not mean that I do not believe that the IOC will be able to hold the Olympic Games next year. After all, look at the NBA at its most $ 150 million bubble, with its daily tests for covid-19, food, security, transportation and complete sanitation. However, games should be played with care and caution, and there is no guarantee that people’s health is not at risk.

The IOC and Japan announced that the 2020 Olympics have been postponed in March amid the coronavirus pandemic. Games have never been postponed before in the history of the event. Until this year, they had only been cancelled due to world wars.

“We agreed that a postponement would be the best way to ensure that athletes are in optimal condition when competing and to ensure the safety of spectators,” said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. said at that time.

According to AFP, Coates stated that Japan had not given up on hosting the games despite the monumental task ahead. He added that before the covid, the IOC maintained that the Tokyo Games were the most prepared it had ever seen.

the Tokyo Olympics They are scheduled to run until August 8, 2021.

[AFP and Deadline]