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A view of the Olympic rings in Tokyo forward of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Video games in Japan.
Danny Lawson | PA Pictures | Getty Pictures
The Tokyo Olympics are set to formally start after a one-year delay, and the Worldwide Olympic Committee says organizers have achieved all they will to make sure a protected video games because the coronavirus pandemic rages on.
“All the pieces that … could be achieved, all the pieces that was really useful by all these consultants — a few of them right here with us to ship these video games — we’ve got achieved,” mentioned Christophe Dubi, the IOC’s Olympic Video games government director.
He was responding to criticism that the group was utilizing “cheap measures” and had not listened to recommendation. Dubi informed CNBC’s “Capital Connection” on Friday that the IOC obtained assist from many consultants world wide and “diligently adopted up” on all of the measures that have been really useful.
“I feel we’re doing simply the correct factor, and we don’t contemplate in any respect that it’s low cost,” he mentioned.
Challenges on the Olympics
World Well being Group Director-Normal Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday told organizers that they have done their best, and said the goal is not to have zero Covid cases during the games.
“The mark of success is making sure that any cases are identified, isolated, traced and cared for as quickly as possible, and onward transmission is interrupted,” Tedros said.
Dubi of the IOC said that’s what the organizers have done over the past few days, and will continue to do.
Looking to the future, including the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, he said the IOC has learned how to create safe conditions, but that the situation is “very fluid” and will keep evolving.
“We have to be prepared for the worst and we have to plan for the worst,” he said. He added that there are “no talks whatsoever” about a postponement.
The show must go on?
Earlier this week, Toshiro Muto, chief of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee, did not rule out canceling the event if Covid-19 cases spike.
But Kirsten Holmes, a professor who focuses on events and tourism at Curtin University, said it would be “very difficult” for the organizers to cancel the games.
For the organizing committee, it’s very difficult for them to not go ahead.
Kirsten Holmes
Professor at Curtin University
She said the Tokyo Games will be more logistically difficult than normal games, and there will need to be flexibility. “But I think it’s very unlikely that … the whole games will be stopped,” she said.
“We could see individual competitions within that postponed or perhaps canceled, if all of the competitors are unable to take part,” she told CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia” on Friday.
With no spectators or international visitors, Holmes said the games will be all about the athletes, some of whom may only have one chance to compete at this level.
“For the organizing committee, it’s very difficult for them to not go ahead, and that’s why … we will see the event proceed over the next couple of weeks and of course the Paralympic Games next month as well,” she said.
Disclosure: CNBC parent NBCUniversal owns NBC Sports and NBC Olympics. NBC Olympics is the U.S. broadcast rights holder to all Summer and Winter Games through 2032.
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