People are concerned a massive international gathering like the Olympics could accelerate the spread of the virus.
Dick Pound, a senior member of the International Olympic Committee, told the Associated Press a total cancelation IS on the table. The IOC doesn’t want to send athletes into a pandemic situation.
He said, ”In and around that time, I’d say folks are going to have to ask: ‘Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not?'”
And, if officials determine it’s too dangerous to move forward, “You’re probably looking at a cancellation.”
That being said, Pound is urging athletes to continue training as usual because the current plan is to have the Games in Tokyo as scheduled.
**The Olympics have only been canceled in modern history as a result of war. The Games were called off in 1916 for WWI and both the 1940 and 1944 Games were axed because of WW2.
