Senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) official Dick Pound said Monday a postponement of this year’s Tokyo Olympics is now inevitable...
Senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) official Dick Pound said Monday a postponement of this year’s Tokyo Olympics is now inevitable as the world reels from the coronavirus pandemic.
The IOC said on Sunday the body would wait four more weeks before announcing its decision on the fate of the July 24-August 9 Games, amid mounting calls for them to be rescheduled.
Pound however believes the IOC – which ruled out a cancellation of the Games – is now laying the groundwork for a postponement.
“My interpretation of the IOC’s communications is they don’t want to cancel, and they don’t think they can continue with the July 24 date,” Pound said. “So you’re looking at the ‘P’ word - postponement.
“They’re going to explore options with the Japanese of course, and then there all kinds of stakeholders – international federations, NOCs, athletes.
“And then in four weeks they’re going to try and come out with a plan B and make it as specific as they can make it in that time period.”
An IOC spokeperson did not respond directly to the substance of Pound’s remarks, saying only in a statement: “It’s the right of every IOC member to interpret the decision of the IOC EB (Executive Board) which was announced yesterday.”
Pound, who is Canadian,...
