‘Tokyo Olympics Can be Delayed,’ Admits World Athletics Chief

The Tokyo Olympics 2020 is slated to start on 24 July.

(Photo: AP)

World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe has said that it is possible to postpone the 2020 Olympics if necessary. The Games is slated for a 24 July start but the rising concern over the spread of coronavirus and the havoc it has wreaked on the qualification calendar has led to questions being raised on whether the organisers can go through with the scheduled date.

“Let’s not make a precipitous decision when we don’t have to, four months out. If you had to ease that date, you’d have to ease it. It is possible. Anything is possible.”

Sebastian Coe to BBC Sport

Sebastian Coe believes postponement of Tokyo Olympics could lead to adverse impact on other sports events.(Photo: AP)

Coe, however, said that changing the dates of the Olympics is a difficult proposition because of the impact it would have on other sports events.

“Events are changing by the hour but it is not a decision that has to be made at the moment. It seems on the surface an easy proposition but athletics has its worlds on that date, the Euros in football have been moved back a year.”

Sebastian Coe to BBC Sport

"The sporting calendar is a complicated matrix and it is not easy to move from one year to the next. It would be ridiculous to say anything is ruled out at the moment. The whole world wants clarity; we're no different from any other sector.” Coe said.

"We've postponed three Diamond League meetings but not all, because we don't have to make that decision. Everybody accepts this is a fast-moving environment. I need to be careful I'm not removing the earning potential from athletes any more than I need to at this moment,” Coe added.