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Could coronavirus cancel the Olympics? 'This is not a manufactured crisis'
Yahoo ^ | February 26, 2020 | Henry Bushnell

Posted on 02/27/2020 6:36:36 AM PST by C19fan

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics are a $25 billion operation. They’re the subject of dreams, of entire lives of training, of a decade of intensive planning. It makes sense, then, that organizers would go to considerable lengths to quell fears that a mysterious coronavirus could impact the Games. “Preparations,” the IOC has said in a blanket statement, “continue as planned.” And Tokyo organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto: “Our basic thoughts are that we will go ahead with the Olympic and Paralympic Games as scheduled.”

Yet as COVID-19’s global case toll reached 80,000 this week, and as the disease spread throughout Asia and to Europe, concern simmered. And on Tuesday, the IOC’s most senior member gave it a prominent voice. Dick Pound used the word “cancellation,” the news media sounded alarms, and for the first time, the possibility that the coronavirus outbreak could shutter the Olympics became real.

On Wednesday, Pound picked up his phone again.

He’d seen some of the reaction to his comments. “And I think either I missed the point or some of the reporters missed the point,” he told Yahoo Sports. “My point was, we are a go for July 24, [as of] today. It’s a very fluid situation. And nobody knows enough about the virus. And that might change. But for now, July 24 is the Opening Ceremony.”

(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Sports
KEYWORDS: olympics; virus
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To: C19fan
The Olympics have long since outlived their usefulness. I'd cancel the games with or without the virus. Run a straightforward world championship annually in all major sports, and don't try to do it in one venue. The once-every-four-years format is now nothing more than a marketing gimmick to hype one meet among many. It's unfair to the athletes to have so much riding on a single event, especially in sports where the top athletes are competing regularly with each other on a circuit. In sports that already have world championships, not much would change.

In team sports, figure out a reasonable qualifying regime for an annual championship tournament of manageable size. This would be a tournament of champions sort of thing, and if you miss out this year -- fail to qualify or get knocked out prematurely in an early round -- you pick yourself up and try again next year. Every four years is too long to wait, as too many athletes don't have that many years at the top level.

As it stands now, you can be the World Champion in 2017, 2018 and 2019, be the dominant figure in your sport most of 2020, come up with a sprained ankle or the flu on the wrong weekend, and lose out in the Olympics. With all the manufactured media hype and money that flows from an Olympic gold medal, that's just unfair to the athletes.

21 posted on 02/27/2020 7:34:30 AM PST by sphinx
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To: C19fan

It’s cancelled already, they just don’t want to admit it.


22 posted on 02/27/2020 7:40:55 AM PST by DannyTN
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To: nascarnation

“I think the US would be a lock for the gold medal.”

Most likely as the competitors would be shot.

rwood


23 posted on 02/27/2020 8:15:08 AM PST by Redwood71 (If they)
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To: calenel
The Reason for the Season: why flu strikes in winter
24 posted on 02/27/2020 8:18:35 AM PST by Robert DeLong
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To: 1Old Pro
Life can’t go on without rhythmic gymnastic and synchronized swimming competitions.

don't forget Discus.

I suggest a new event. Whack a lefty.

25 posted on 02/27/2020 11:21:41 AM PST by Hyman Roth
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To: 1Old Pro
Life can’t go on without rhythmic gymnastic and synchronized swimming competitions.

don't forget Discus.

I suggest a new event. Whack a lefty.

26 posted on 02/27/2020 11:22:11 AM PST by Hyman Roth
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To: C19fan

Maybe they should cancel late night with kimmy jimmel..and The View ..due to coronavirus threat?


27 posted on 02/27/2020 11:27:39 AM PST by Leep (Everyday is Trump Day!)
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To: nuconvert

Guess how many Chinese Olympic teams are here training?

https://www.kxan.com/sports-general/japan-2020/chinese-rowing-team-training-for-tokyo-olympics-in-texas/

Their 60+ member rowing team came to Texas in Dec. so they got out just in time but that doesn’t mean other teams aren’t trying to get here. They trained at Texas State Univ. in San Marcos for a while. They’re now in Austin and then 24 of them will go on to Baylor Univ. in Waco.

That’s just one team and who knows how many have come and gone?


28 posted on 02/27/2020 11:35:07 AM PST by bgill (Idiots. CDC site doesn't recommend wearing a mask to protect from COVID-19)
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To: Robert DeLong

It’s not the flu and it’s doing just fine in some warm climates. But, hey, go ahead and hang your hat on that one. It might work out.


29 posted on 02/27/2020 12:01:01 PM PST by calenel (The Democratic Party is a Criminal Enterprise. It is the Progressive Mafia.)
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To: calenel
They are both viruses that attack the respiratory system. So while technically not the same, they share a great similarity to each other, as a cold does to the flu. Up to a third of common colds are caused by coronaviruses. Most coronaviruses do seem to thrive during the winter and are then significantly diminished when warmer weather rolls around. We will have to wait and see if this coronavirus reacts in the same manner, but odds are that it likely will.

Can Coronavirus Be Crushed By Warmer Weather?

I guess we will all have to wait and see how it works for humanity, but I still see no reason to panic over the virus. Nor do I see any need, at his point, to believe the Olympics will be cancelled because of the virus. Perhaps it's just me, but I do not worry that I will become a victim. If I do I do, but I take precautions that limit my exposure, such as washing my hands more than most people probably do. If it should get me, I am at peace with that knowing that I have lived a full life, but I still feel confident that some other human malady will get me before this coronavirus does. 8>)

30 posted on 02/27/2020 12:34:09 PM PST by Robert DeLong
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To: C19fan

They need to cancel and they probably will by May depending on what the situation is by then.


31 posted on 02/27/2020 12:38:38 PM PST by Captain Peter Blood (https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3804407/posts?q=1&;page=61)
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To: BenLurkin

yeah, that and freak show males competing as gals.


32 posted on 02/27/2020 12:46:56 PM PST by Joe Boucher ( Molon Labe' bget bent ya pukes.aby, Molon Labe)
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To: Robert DeLong

Yep, it is more probable that this virus will be shut down by warm weather than not, but it is not certain. I prefer to err on the side of caution.

There is no reason to panic at this point, agreed. I also doubt the Olympics will be cancelled, although it is possible they will be redistributed in some fashion. Who knows?

We take precautions as well in my house, including the ability to shelter in place if a quarantine of our area should occur. None of the quarantines have been lifted anywhere so far, and I’d prefer not to take on the additional risks of exposure going out for supplies would entail in the event that there are such quarantines here, so we have what we need to get through several months without leaving the house if need be.

Simple pragmatic caution.


33 posted on 02/27/2020 1:09:12 PM PST by calenel (Don't panic. Prepare and be vigilant.)
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To: calenel

Agreed, caution is always recommended. But the press is trying to whip people into hysteria because it gives them yet another reason to attack our President. Risky behavior is labeled as such for a reason. I live in the country, and travel into work only 1 day a week, however, my wife works at Walmart so I risk exposure by that fact. But since Louisiana has not had any reported cases I feel reasonably confident that her exposure is very limited as well.. My point is, of course, that contracting the virus is really quite limited, and reasonable precautions are being employed to limit transmission of this virus in this country. People need to just relax and not work themselves into a frenzy over it.


34 posted on 02/27/2020 1:36:46 PM PST by Robert DeLong
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To: C19fan

.


35 posted on 02/27/2020 2:04:57 PM PST by sauropod (David Horowitz: “Inside every progressive is a totalitarian screaming to get out.”)
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To: Robert DeLong

“But the press is trying to whip people into hysteria because it gives them yet another reason to attack our President.”

I see plenty of political upside for the President if it comes to a media war on this topic. The only real political downside would be if he did nothing and we had outbreaks here like the ones in Japan, Korea and Italy.

He’s acted Presidential and took early action to limit US risk. He can always play that up, especially because the Rats are now trying to cover their early complaints about it. “I acted while they were pushing their impeachment hoax and they complained about reasonable and necessary measures. Now they are complaining that it isn’t enough, to cover for their earlier obstruction.” “The Democrats want to turn us into Communist China with their socialized medicine and Medicare for all. Look how that’s working out for China.”

Not that I think this should be politicized at all. It’s a problem we should just focus on and crush with saving lives and preventing future similar situations as priorities. But it has already been politicized by the Rats, the Chinese, the Iranians and plenty of others, so that cat is out of the bag.


36 posted on 02/27/2020 2:49:40 PM PST by calenel (Don't panic. Prepare and be vigilant.)
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To: C19fan

they better not cancel March Madness....


37 posted on 02/27/2020 2:50:30 PM PST by cherry
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To: calenel
Look at what this manufactured hysteria has done to the stock market. While I agree with everything you say, the press and the Democrats are tickled pink that this virus has hit. In the end I believe all will be well, but hysteria breeds and spreads quicker than the virus, and that hysteria must be brought under control and stamped out.

I am doing my part on this site to do just that. It seems like I am fighting a losing battle. There are certain posters on this site that seem to be clueless as to the damage they are doing. So I finally spoke up, only to have people slap me down, not that their actions have bothered me. These people need to find other topics other than posting articles that only drive more hysteria. I won't mention any names, but a quick perusal of the board will quickly identify them.

38 posted on 02/27/2020 3:18:31 PM PST by Robert DeLong
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