Thorpe issues coronavirus Olympic warning

Olympic legend Ian Thorpe is urging Australia’s athletes to consider their long-term health before deciding to compete at the Tokyo Games.

Former Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe arrives at a press conference on the government's Religious Discrimination Bill at Parliament House in Canberra

Olympic legend Ian Thorpe has urged Australia’s athletes to consider their long-term health before ­deciding to compete at the Tokyo Games.

As concerns mount over the spreading coronavirus in Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ­ordered all schools across the country to be closed until spring holidays begin late next month.

The decision, which will affect 12.8 million students at 34,847 schools, comes as Japan confirmed its eighth death from the virus late on Thursday.

Thorpe said Olympic organisers must ensure athletes will be safe at the Tokyo Games, due to start on July 24. “I would most definitely be concerned,” the swimming great said in Canberra.

His comments come a day after senior International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound said any decision on whether the Games could proceed could be put off until late May: “In and around that time, I’d say folks are going to have to ask: ‘Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not?’”

Australian Olympic officials said preparations were continuing as normal.

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But five-time Olympic gold medallist Thorpe said the coronavirus risk was a factor athletes must consider before travelling to Tokyo.

“What we need to know is to use some of the best expert disease specialists to find out what is the risk to the team,” the retired swim star said. “What is the risk to the other nations and how can we have an Olympic Games, one that is safe, that doesn’t put athletes at risk?

“What you have to understand as well is there are other risks associated with an Olympic Games, the threat of a terrorist event taking place … and we (athletes) take into consideration those things before we decide to compete.

“I think the decision should come down to each individual athlete. But whether or not they want to compete, that they should take their health into consideration first.”

Australia’s Olympic team chef de mission Ian Chesterman said on Wednesday the spread of the coronavirus was a serious concern, but there had been no indication given to Australia that the Tokyo Games won’t proceed.

AAP