Bach: Tokyo Olympics could be held without vaccine
GENEVA — International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach indicated optimism that the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for next summer could be held even without a vaccine for the novel coronavirus.
In a letter issued Tuesday to officials of national Olympic committees and others, Bach showed renewed confidence in hosting the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Recent moves to resume sports events amid the novel coronavirus pandemic “have shown that we can organize big sports events in a safe way even without a vaccine,” he said.
Such moves “should give all of us confidence in our preparations for future events, including the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020,” he said.
In particular, Bach said the IOC is monitoring the potential of innovative testing methods such as so-called rapid tests for the safe organization of events. He also said “the developments in testing and in vaccines will greatly facilitate the safe organization of sports events,” citing the possibility of a vaccine being approved by the end of the year.
“There are good reasons for cautious optimism,” Bach said.
