Olympic Games could still be called off as Tokyo faces a Triple health threat

The latest report reaching Soireenews shows that games could still be called off at the last minute at the Olympics as Tokyo faces a Triple health threat.

The first events of the Games were taking place overnight, with Team GB’s women footballers in action against Chile this morning.

As Games-linked Covid cases continue to rise in a city rising in indignation at the Olympics taking place, Tokyo 2020 chief Toshiro Muto said he was prepared to discuss a last-minute cancellation.

“We can't predict what will happen with the number of coronavirus cases. So we will continue discussions if there is a spike in cases.

“We have agreed that based on the coronavirus situation, we will convene five-party talks again. 

“At this point, the coronavirus cases may rise or fall, so we will think about what we should do when the situation arises." Toshiro Muto explains.

The Tokyo’s 2020 Chief stunning intervention, just hours after IOC President Thomas Bach admitted he had suffered ‘sleepless nights' and feared the Games would not be able to take place, came as Tokyo suffered another two health and safety body blows.

The first was the finding of elevated levels of the potentially deadly E-coli bacteria in the Tokyo Bay waters due to host the triathlon and open water swimming events.

Local residents have complained about the sewage smell, with heavy rain forecast for next week which could see further leakage into the Bay.

Toshiro’s comments which were the most eye-opening, after yet more COVID-19 chaos in and around the Olympic Village have now been put on the table.

Muto’s unexpected statement, coming after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga promised ‘we can bring success to the delivery of the Games’, was another sign of the public backlash as feeling against the Olympics hardens.

It was viewed, however, as more of a damage limitation exercise designed to show that Tokyo 2020 was not a mere rubber-stamp for the IOC than a genuine threat.

Nevertheless, with Bach conceding he refused to acknowledge the possibility of the Games being scrapped because it would have become ‘a self-fulfilling prophecy’, the possibility of the Olympics not happening has now been aired.

Despite the chaos, Brisbane will be confirmed this week as the host of the 2032 Olympics after being designated the ‘preferred bidder’ by the IOC.