THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
March 16, 2020 at 12:54 JST
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach speaks at the lighting ceremony of the Olympic flame for the Tokyo Olympics in Olympia, Greece, on March 12. (Kazuhiro Nagashima)
With concerns rising for holding the Tokyo Olympics as scheduled amid the spreading new coronavirus, the International Olympic Committee has called an emergency meeting on March 17, sources said.
IOC President Thomas Bach will conduct a teleconference with international federations of each sport to explain the measures being taken to hold the Tokyo Olympics, according to the sources.
Qualifying rounds and international competitions that relate to the Olympics have continued to be called off or postponed as travel restrictions have been imposed worldwide.
For athletes who are unable to participate in their respective Olympic qualifiers due to the cancellations, Bach is considering setting up special measures to allow them to compete in the Games.
The IOC president has not changed his stance of holding the Tokyo Olympics as scheduled, starting July 24.
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