Former IOC VP Pound says fans optional for Tokyo Olympics

Former IOC vice president Dick Pound says Tokyo Olympics could go ahe without fans. And he predicted games will open on July 23 despite surging coronavirus cases in Japan and around globe.

" question is — is this a ‘must-have’ or ‘nice-to-have.’ It’s nice to have spectators. But it’s t a must-have,” Pound said in an interview with Japan’s Kyodo news ncy published on Thursday.

Pound is longer a part of IOC's decision-making executive board, but he has been speaking out recently to generate enthusiasm for postponed Olympics.

His words come as recent polls in Japan show 80% of public believe Olympics should t happen with virus cases surging — or will t happen.

Pound, a veteran Canian Olympic official and inaugural president of World Anti-Doping ncy, repeated what IOC and local organizers have been saying for months: games will be canceled if y cant be held this time. re will t be ar postponement.

“It’s eir 2021, or thing," he said.

Pound said “body can guarantee ” Olympics will open on July 23. But I think re’s a very, very, good chance that y can, and that y will.”

Pound's words suggest Olympics may be shaping up as a largely TV-only event with athletes kept in a bubble, transported back and forth to venues, and encourd to leave Japan as soon as ir participation ends.

Japanese media have said opening ceremony will be limited to 6,000 athletes. About 11,000 are expected to compete in Olympics. Paralympics d ar 4,400 athletes.

For Switzerland-based International Olympic Committee, getting event on television — fans or fans — is critical to its finances. IOC President Thomas Bach has ackwledged finances are under “pressure” because of one-year postponement.

IOC earns 73% of its revenue from selling brocast rights. In Tokyo this could amount to $2 billion to $3 billion in lost income if games were canceled.

“I think IOC and organizers are committed to going ahe with games, if at all possible," Pound said. “And so y’re t going to cancel unless re’s a consensus among government, health authorities and IOC that it would be too dangerous.”

“But at moment, plans are in place. All indications are that we should go ahe. re’s reason why games can’t go on.”

local organizing committee has budgeted $800 million in income from ticket sales. absence of fans would mean a shortfall in revenue. Any shortfall will have to be assumed by various Japanese government entities.

Officially, Japan says it's spending $15.4 billion to prepare Olympics, However, several government audits suggest it's $25 billion or more. All but $6.7 is public money.

local organizing committee budget shows IOC contributes about $1.3 billion to financing of Olympics.

A University of Oxford study published last year showed Tokyo is most expensive Summer Olympics on record.

A date to watch is March 25 when torch relay begins with 10,000 runners heing to Tokyo over a four-month journey. Kyodo said Pound suggested relay could be shortened or canceled if necessary.

re was talk early of calling off relay, but it is heavily sponsored by Toyota and Coca-Cola.

Tokyo and several or prefecture are under a state of emergency until at least Feb. 7. Japan has attributed about 4,700 deaths of COVID-19, relatively low for a country of 125 million.

Im credits: AP