Senior official admits uncertainty over Tokyo Olympics games

A senior official of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Dick Pound has said he that he can’t be certain that the 2020 Olympics which was rescheduled to this year can go ahead.

Host city Tokyo has declared a state of emergency following the surge in the number of COVID-19 infection, prompting fears that the games will have to be suspended for the second time.

When quizzed by the BBC whether the games will begin on the July 23 timeline, Pound said: “I can’t be certain because the ongoing elephant in the room would be the surges in the virus.”

Meanwhile, IOC president Thomas Bach and organisers have insisted it’s impossible to suspend the games for the second time after an initial delay which say the event move by a year.

Tokyo is currently suffering the third wave of coronavirus cases as they recorded an increased number of cases.

On Thursday, the city recorded close to 2,500 cases in one day, a figure that represents a 50% increase from the previous day, prompting the prime minister to declare a state of emergency in the City and others nearby.

There have been proposals by athletes, fans, and some stakeholders to either cancel or suspend the games for the second time.