The head of the Japan Medical Association said this week that the Tokyo Olympics could be canceled – not just postponed – if a vaccine for coronavirus isn’t found.
Yoshitake Yokokura is a surgeon and the head of the Japan Medical Association. The Washington Post, among others, reports that Yokokura spoke to reporters via video press conference Tuesday, expressing doubt that the Olympics could take place without a vaccine for the novel 2019 coronavirus. The coronavirus and the related COVID-19 illness caused a global pandemic that forced the cancellation of the 2020 Olympics.
Organizers and the IOC still plan to hold the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, but almost exactly one year later in the summer of 2021. But even as sport governing bodies work to reschedule Olympic qualifying events and make new arrangements, the possibility of a final cancellation still looms large.
“In my view, it would be difficult to hold the Olympics unless effective vaccines are developed,” Yokokura told reporters. The president of Japan’s organizing committee, Yoshiro Mori, also told reporters that if the pandemic is not under control by next summer, the Olympics would ultimately be canceled.
The Summer Olympics have only been canceled three times in the modern era, stretching back to 1896. The 1916 Summer Olympics were canceled due to World War I, and World War II claimed two consecutive Summer Olympics, in 1940 and 1944.
What if the ingredients of a potential vaccine are on the substance banned list?
Then everyone is getting a TUE.
I’ve done a quick search, and couldn’t find any vaccines that are currently banned. It seems unlikely to me.
Makes sense.
I think they could have waited like 6-9 months from now to see how this plays out before casting that level of doubt and proclaiming that a vaccine is the only path forward. There’s new information coming out almost daily that helps us understand how deadly the virus is what type of immunity has been built up in different areas and when the virus will burn out through herd immunity.
It is up to Japan to decide what is safe for their citizens & good for Japan . As to medical & scientific understandings , we have no central body now WHO has been cast as a villain by certain leaders & funding threatened.. it’s not as if the CDC will be the light guiding us out .Presently th e y could not find their way out of a paper bag .
We may be adrift in a sea of conflicting info still in 2021.
Yeah and the information shows zero evidence of lasting immunity yet
What are you talking about? They can’t even project & publish accurate infection numbers and you think their information on immunity is reliable? Pfffft
bold claim cotton
Moving the goal posts.
BUT WHAT DOES DICK POUND HAVE TO SAY?!?
Obviously I would prefer it happened, but right now my main interest is getting age group swimming and clubs back operating.
Seems a much more pressing concern for swimming orgs than the Olympics.
The Olympics is a HUGE money maker for swimming organizations on top of being a multi billion dollar endeavor to hold in general. I know everything is relative but I would put as much importance on holding the games as I would getting the sport going in general in terms of these athletic organizations.
It is what it is……. Sadly, events like these can happen and that’s life. Can’t believe that this was the year I really started getting into swimming and I mean checking swimswam everyday.
Well, good time to catch up on the great races in swimming history, the great coaches, which SwimSwam has been featuring.
I want Dick Pound…..updates on this situation.
It’s really hard not knowing what his thoughts are on the matter. I always get a little excited when releases a load of statements. I’m sure we’ll hear from him when the climax of all the vaccine news hits, but hopefully the news comes fast