Coronavirus: Tokyo Olympics officials wait on vaccine

Six-week window will be used to reassess if the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will go ahead in July.

Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll. Picture: Getty Images

International Olympic officials have given themselves a six-week window before reassessing if the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will go ahead in July, wanting to see the impact of the vaccination programs rolling out around many parts of the world.

But if the Tokyo Olympics are cancelled, it could imperil the 2032 Queensland bid as the Japanese could be offered those Games, the next available slot behind the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Olympic sources have told The Weekend Australian the beginning of March is a critical period for organisers to make a final decision about Tokyo.

This is because the Olympic torch relay, involving 10,000 runners, will begin in late March and travel around Japan until the Games opening ceremony in Tokyo on July 23.

Crucially both the IOC and the big television networks including the Olympic bankroller NBC, are bullish for the Games to go ahead, even if the spectators are missing.

This week IOC president Thomas Bach told Japanese news agency Kyodo News: “We have at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on the 23rd of July in the Olympic stadium in Tokyo.” He added, “there is no plan B’’.

Both the Japanese and Tokyo governments were shocked with the results of a recent poll indicating dramatically falling support by locals to hold the Games, yet the financial impact of a cancellation would be immense with $US20bn ($25.7bn) already spent or committed. The IOC has also ruled out postponing the Tokyo Games for a second time.

Japanese officials also believe the attitude of Tokyo residents will change as infection rates and death rates are expected to fall in the coming weeks because of the vaccination program for vulnerable residents dovetailing with the northern hemisphere moving out of winter conditions, which favours the spread of the virus.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told the Japanese parliament yesterday: “I am determined to realise a safe and secure Tokyo Games as proof that mankind will have overcome the virus.” He added: “We will have full anti-infection measures in place and proceed with preparation with a determination to achieve the Games that can deliver hope and courage throughout the world.’’

Japan has had 4700 deaths attributed to COVID-19, but despite a state of emergency in the capital, there is no mandatory isolation or closure of businesses.

Two days ago the IOC updated its members around the world about progress for the Games, with national Olympic committees, international sports federations and broadcasters told there would be a guide to virus countermeasures issued on February 5.

The IOC’s Tokyo co-ordination commission chair and Australian Olympic Committee president, John Coates, said organising president Toshiro Muto had told him on Thursday that organisers would not know until as late as May how many spectators may be able to attend.

Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll said the Tokyo Olympics would not be lavish but would be focused on the athlete competition.

“This will be very much an athletes and competition-centred games,” he said.

Earlier there was media speculation that within Mr Suga’s ruling coalition there was a push for a Games cancellation, which Mr Carroll said was “an unfounded rumour”.

“He (Mr Suga) has just stood up in parliament in Tokyo and said the Games are on.”

Mr Carroll said Australia continues to prepare a team of about 1000 athletes and support officials.

He added: “Tokyo 2020 will be a very different games. Simpler, but with a focus on the athletes and their competitions. Sadly, ceremonies and cultural aspects of the Games will be reduced. Decisions on spectators, local and international, are still to be made.”

But if a decision is taken to cancel the Tokyo Games — the first non-wartime cancellation — there are already moves among Japan’s politicians to lobby for the 2032 Games, which would throw Brisbane’s bid into disarray.

Brisbane is the current favourite to host the 2032 Olympics because it is a low-risk option and has bipartisan government support. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wants to use the Games to fast-track federal funding for Gold Coast-Sunshine Coast transport links.