Tokyo Olympic organisers ‘collaborating with experts’ over coronavirus outbreak

A number of sporting events have already been cancelled or rescheduled following the public health emergency, which has been centred on China.

Organisers of the Tokyo Olympics are in contact with medical authorities as concerns rise over the coronavirus outbreak.

A number of sporting events have already been cancelled or rescheduled following the public health emergency, which has been centred on China.

The Games are due to start on July 24, and the International Olympic Committee has said it is monitoring developments closely.

A graphic showing confirmed coronavirus cases (PA Graphic)

“Tokyo 2020 will continue to collaborate with all relevant organisations which carefully monitor any incidence of infectious diseases and will review any countermeasures that may be necessary with all relevant organisations.

“In addition, the IOC is in contact with the World Health Organisation, as well as its own medical experts.”

There were concerns in the build-up to the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games related to the Zika virus, and while some competitors decided to withdraw from those Games, they went ahead as scheduled.

People wear masks at a metro station in Taipei (Chiang Ying-ying/AP)

As of 10am Friday morning, there were 11 confirmed cases in Japan.

The outbreak has already affected Olympic-related events. A women’s basketball qualifying tournament featuring Great Britain was moved from China to Serbia earlier this week, while new dates have been scheduled for women’s football qualifiers in Australia in February after the Chinese team were held in isolation in Brisbane.

The most high-profile event definitely affected so far is the World Indoor Athletics Championships, which had been due to take place in Nanjing in March but have now been postponed until 2021.

The LPGA Tour’s Blue Bay golf event, due to be staged on Hainan Island between March 5 and 8, has been removed from the schedule.