Posted on 02/14/2020 6:18:11 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
TOKYO -- Tokyo Olympic organizers and the International Olympic Committee said Friday there is no “Plan B” for the 2020 Games, which open in just over five months and have been jolted by the outbreak of a virus in neighboring China.
The coronavirus has infected almost 64,000 people globally with almost 1,400 deaths in China, but only one in Japan where fear is rising with so much attention focused on the outbreak.
“Certainly the advice we're received externally from the WHO (World Health Organization) is that there's no case for any contingency plans or cancelling the games or moving the games," John Coates, the head of an IOC inspection team, said to wrap up a two-day visit that was dominated by the virus issue.
Coates and Tokyo Olympic organizers took 11 questions at a news conference on Friday. All 11 were about the virus, or the presence of Chinese athletes in 19 remaining test events in Japan, or about Chinese fans, or repeated questions seeking reassurance the games will go ahead as planned.
A Japanese reporter asked Tokyo organizing committee President Yoshiro Mori if, given the fact the games are going ahead, would there be any “organizational changes” in how the games are run.
“No, at this stage, no. We are not thinking of any such possibility," said Mori, a former Japanese prime minister, speaking in Japanese.
Mori, Coates and CEO Toshiro Muto looked glum sitting at a head table taking essentially the same question over and over.
“We can confirm that Tokyo 2020 remains on track,” Coates said in his opening statement.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
I think that I would hold off on buying tickets to Japan for the Olympics. In others, not gonna happen.
Geographic proximity to China should not mean anything in this day of easy air travel. It is what barriers are at the ports, air and sea, that makes the difference.
japan does everything by the book, so the problem here is there sop, they need to take a page from taiwan on this one.
the reason they are hit this hard is because they followed WHO’s sop. Taiwan shut the border immediately following USA’s lead.
...until you have to fly 14 hours with 320 strangers in close proximity.
My employer has ceased all company travel:
“to include any travel to, from and through Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, in addition to China “
I certainly hope the US refuses to participate. And Canada too, since we’re so close. I really think they should put the whole thing off for at least a year, or until they get it for sure under control. And inspectors from the US oh, Canada, Australia, England, Poland, etc. need to be sent into China to make absolutely sure.
The Olympics are in Japan, an advanced country on top of things. To cancel the games or postpone them a year hits hard our American athletes and should not be done without a very solid reason imo. Now, I could see making the Chinese team arrive a few weeks early and go into quarantine.
“My employer has ceased all company travel:
“to include any travel to, from and through Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, in addition to China “”
Sounds like your employer is PRO-ACTIVE and not taking the ‘soothing words’ of the WHO and China at face value. It’s very possible that they just bought you guys enough time to hold out for a vaccine, hopefully.
I tried to do the same a week ago, but was rebuffed - now we have people returning from the ‘hot zone’. Only (practical) option for me, now, is keeping distance as much as possible.
Now that is a good plan. You are correct, that it appears the surrounding countries have a handle on this.
But we have no idea about North Korea; those poor people are basically eating tree bark they are so starved. We will get nothing out of them, or the red Chinese..
But I agree, a good sound quarantine of those particular countries is well in order. Yes, go for it guys let’s do it! I always love the Olympics by the way! It is so much fun and a great wonderful occasion for the world to get together!
I always knew the Trump would deal with company executives, airline CEOs, etc., instead of slapping the face of China.
Our president is one smart cookie. LOL!
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