It is still unclear whether or not the Tokyo 2020 Olympics would hold next year as rescheduled.
The International Olympic Committee, IOC, and the local organising committee for the games have disagreed that hosting the games hinges on the development of a vaccine to prevent contracting COVID-19 pandemic.
Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, said that it will be impossible to host games next year unless the Coronavirus pandemic is contained while an executive member of the IOC, John Coates, said that the games are not dependent on the availability of a vaccine.
With the epidemic’s worldwide infection rate climbing and experts suggesting a vaccine is still a long way off, questions are being asked about whether the huge set piece event might need to be delayed further.
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Coates, the head of the IOC’s Coordination Commission for the Olympics, said the advice from the World Health Organisation is to continue to plan for this date.
He also said that the IOC is committed to hosting the games next year with the wellbeing of everyone a priority.
The games, originally set to start in July this year, have been rescheduled for 2021, to be held over July 23 to August 8.
The delay was a major blow for Japan, which has spent $13 billion on preparations.
