Skip to main content
Global Edition
Friday, March 29, 2024

Tokyo organisers 'seriously worried' over spread of coronavirus

Duration: 00:22s 0 shares 1 views

Tokyo organisers 'seriously worried' over spread of coronavirus
Tokyo organisers 'seriously worried' over spread of coronavirus

International Paralympic Committee Spokesman is confident that all necessary measures will be taken ahead of the 2020 Games

SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 5, 2020) (TV TOKYO - Broadcasters: NO USE JAPAN/MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY "TV TOKYO" WHEN VIDEO IS USED ON CABLE, COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE IN JAPAN BY CNN, CNNI, BBC WORLD, NBC & CNBC Digital: NO USE JAPANESE WEBSITES) 1.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE SPOKESMAN, CRAIG SPENCE, SAYING: "We are in regular dialogue with the World Health Organisation and the IOC.

This is normal practice ahead of any normal event or Games like this.

We have full confidence that the relevant authorities, in particular in Japan, China and the World Health Organisation will take all the necessary measures to address the situation." STORY: The spread of a new coronavirus could throw "cold water over the growing momentum of the 2020 Games," Tokyo Organising Committee CEO Toshiro Muto said on Wednesday (February 5).

Muto was speaking at a meeting in Tokyo with the organizers of the Paralympic Games, but the International Paralympic Committee Spokesman, Craig Spence, said they had full confidence all necessary measures would be taken.

Japanese government officials including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have said the government would work hard to minimize any impact from the virus outbreak on the Games, which start on July 24.

The death toll from the flu-like virus that originated in China's central city of Wuhan has passed 490, as two U.S. airlines suspended flights to Hong Kong following the first fatality there and 10 cases were confirmed on a quarantined Japanese cruise ship.

Vaccines against the virus probably won't be ready by the start of the Tokyo Summer Olympics, a professor who looked at health risks ahead of the Games told Reuters earlier, adding he hoped there was enough time to build defences.

Several qualifying events including badminton and boxing have been postponed due to the virus.

(Production: Jack Tarrant)

You might like

Related news coverage

Advertisement