TOKYO: A Japanese expert Kentaro Iwata has said that the postponed Olympics which was scheduled to be held in 2021 might be delayed further due to rising COVID-19 cases, which has affected sporting events across the world.
Kentaro Iwata, a professor of infectious diseases at Kobe University, said, “Japan and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed last month to delay the Tokyo 2020 Games until July 2021 after pressure from athletes and sports federations.”
During a press briefing, Iwata said, “The coronavirus would have to be under control at home and abroad for the games to take place because you have to invite the athletes and the audience from all over the world.”
The Japenese expert assured that Japan might be able to control this disease by next summer, “I wish we could, but I do not think that would happen everywhere on Earth, so in this regard, I am very pessimistic about holding the Olympic games next summer,” he asserted.
Iwata said that he could only see the Olympic Games being held next year if they were significantly altered, “such as no audience, or very limited participation”.
Major sporting events have been canceled or postponed. The most significant one that was due to take place in Japan this summer was FIFA. The Asian Football Confederation has also agreed to postpone the Asian World Cup qualifying matches in March and June.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) top-tier football league in the US has extended the postponement of matches in the country until at least June 8 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Euro 2020 tournament has been postponed until 2021.
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