Tokyo Olympics wouldn’t go ahead today: Virus expert warns

As global fears spread as fast as the coronavirus scourge, the outbreak could claim a major event — and Australia will not commit to attending if it proceeds.

AUSTRALIA is not ruling out withdrawing from the Olympics as coronavirus cases in Japan surge and a respected virus expert warned if the Games were due to be held tomorrow the would not go ahead.

Sport Minister Richard Colbeck warned Australian athletes’ involvement in the Games would not come at the risk of their health.

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Respected virologist Dr Hitoshi Oshitani warned if the Games to due to start today they probably couldn’t go ahead due to the outbreak.

The New Tokyo Stadium, the main venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

International health authorities are potentially days away from declaring the Covid-19 coronavirus a global pandemic, if transmissions continue in Italy, Japan and South Korea.

It comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison has begun hinting the global economic shock could see the long-promised surplus lost, with the outbreak’s impact described as “worse than the bushfires”.

“This is not like a global financial crisis. This is a global health crisis … If we can overcome the virus, then in time we can also address the longer term and medium-term economic impacts,” Mr Morrison said.

There was chaos in the stockmarket, as $82 billion was wiped from the value of Australian companies in the past two days amid concerns over the virus spreading outside China.

There have been outbreaks of virus in Tokyo, but also in other prefectures where events are scheduled to be held including in Hokkaido and Kanagawa where baseball and football events are to be held.

A withdrawal would be unprecedented for Australia, which has competed in all the Olympic Games, including the widely boycotted 1980 Moscow Games after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan.

There are reports Australia’s training plans in Japan, where there have been more than 155 cases reported outside the 600 on the cruise ship, will have to be adjusted to ensure they remain in safe areas.

The Australian Institute of Sport say they were concerned, but proceeding on the assumption the games are going ahead.

“We remain vigilant and concerned – but it is important that people remain calm and act on the best health advice available,” the spokeswoman said.

Mr Colbeck said the government was working with authorities locally and overseas to protect Australian Olympians.

“Australian athletes are ready to make their mark at the Tokyo Olympics – but it should not be at the risk of their health and wellbeing,” he said.

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said it was too early to make any calls about the Olympics, which are not due to be held until July 24.

“They’re working very hard to try and contain their outbreak at the moment and we’ll be watching that situation closely. I think it’s too early to predict,” Prof Murphy said.

Dr Oshitani, who worked on the SARS outbreak, told the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan yesterday that more needed to be done to have a safe Olympics.

“Right now we don’t have an effective strategy, and I think it may be difficult to have the Olympics (now),” the virologist said.

“But by the end of July we may be in a different situation.”

The IOC and Japanese Olympic organisers have consistently said the Games will not be cancelled or postponed.

Triple-Olympic gold medallist Grant Hackett described Colbeck’s approach to wait and see how things play out as “pragmatic and sensible”

“We have to put individuals’ health and safety first, as much as everyone’s trained for this and it only comes around once every four years,” Hackett said.

“I’d like to hope the IOC, which has the power and ability to move things around, will take the same pragmatic approach.”