BERLIN (GERMANY) – The Tokyo Olympics will be on top of the agenda when the International Olympic Committee’s executive board meets on Wednesday. However, the board will strongly be seen talking in favour of the event, any talk of cancelling it altogether due to the COVID-19 pandemic is highly unlikely.
With less than six months remaining until the troubled Games are slated to start, the board will instead try to solve questions regarding the vaccination of athletes, international visitors and the attendance of spectators, and safety regulations among a few other matters.
The Olympic body was forced to postpone the Games by 12 months as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down sport worldwide.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is sticking to his government’s commitment to host the Games.
The IOC insists there is no plan B for Tokyo.
IOC President Thomas Bach said in a message to organisers on Saturday, “Six months ahead of the Games, the entire Olympic movement is looking forward to the opening ceremony on July 23.”
He conceded that it would be a “huge undertaking”, but he added that major sporting events were already being conducted around the world despite not having the widespread availability of vaccination against the virus yet.
The World Health Organization said on Monday risk management advice is being given to the IOC and Japanese authorities over the Tokyo Olympics, however, it added that its top priority is inoculating health workers worldwide against COVID-19.
One issue that looks to have been evaded is the possibility of the IOC enforcing sanctions on Italy regarding government interference in sport in connection to a draft law there, after Rome approved a decree guaranteeing the autonomy of CONI, the national Olympic committee.
The IOC had hinted it could ban the Italian flag and national anthem from the Tokyo Games. On Tuesday, however, the Italian government approved a decree giving approval to CONI’s autonomy, essentially preventing the threat of sanctions.
The IOC is averse to any kind of involvement from the government in its sporting affairs, even at the national level.
Italy is all set to host the 2026 winter Olympics and similar sanctions would have been an embarrassment for the country.