Sir Keith Mills, deputy chairman of the London London Organizing Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games, is unsure if the delayed Tokyo Olympics will take place.
Organizers from Tokyo and the International Olympic Committee are adamant that the Games will begin in July despite the new waves of infection all over the world.
Sir Keith’s Statement
Mills told BBC Radio 5 live: “If you look at the global pandemic, in South America, North America, Africa and the rest of Europe, it seems impossible.
“If I had been sitting in the shoes of the Tokyo planning committee, I would have made plans to cancel and I am sure they have plans to cancel. I think they will leave it until the last minute if the situation worsens, in case the vaccinations roll out faster than we all hope.”
COVID Scenario In Japan
A state of emergency has been extended in Japan to combat rising coronavirus rates, but the World Athletics president Sebastian Coe is confident the event will go ahead this year. “I don’t think it will be cancelled,” he told Sky News. “It is going to be a challenge, we know that, it is pretty self-evident and there will be adaptions. But of all the countries on the planet that has the fortitude and the resilience to see this through, it is Japan. I wake up as a federation president grateful that Japan is dealing with this and not some other places I could think of.
“I am sure there will be big issues with crowds and just think about the Olympic Village, too. You have got 10,500 athletes and another 7,000 support staff in there. They are all wanting to eat at the same time and that is just a sliver of the challenge. For the athletes it will be a different experience. I think the Games will take place but they will look different.”
Despite some optimism from Lord Coe, the current situation makes it very difficult for athletes to prepare for the Games.
Tokyo 2020 planning committee spokesperson Masa Takaya said last week there had been no discussions about any further delays in the Summer Games or cancellations.
