IOC official disagrees COVID-19 vaccine needed for Olympics

he of IOC’s coordination commission for Tokyo Olympics said Wednesday he disagrees with suggestions by some scientists and doctors that a vaccine for COVID-19 is needed to hold games.

John Coates, an International Olympic Committee member from Australia who is a lawyer, said he h seen opinion but didn’t agree.

“ vice we’re getting from WHO (World Health Organization) says we should continue to plan for this date and that is what we’re doing, and that’s t contingent on a vaccine,” Coates told Australian Associated Press. “A vaccine would be nice. But we will just continue to be guided by WHO and Japanese health authorities.”

On Tuesday, Japan Medical Association president Yoshitake Yokokura said it would only be possible for Olympics to go ahe in July 2021 if infections were under control, t only in Japan, but globally.

“In my view, it would be difficult to hold Olympics unless effective vaccines are developed,” Yokokura said.

Coates offered details how 11,000 Olympians and 4,400 Paralympians from more than 200 nations and territories could safely enter — and exit — Japan without spreing virus. y would be housed toger in Athletes Vill.

y would also be accompanied by thousands of staff members and coaches, and thousands more technical officials who have to run events. d to this thousands of world brocasters, who pay billions for rights to Olympics — a critical element, particularly if Olympics are held with limited numbers of spectators.

Coates said a lot of work h been done since postponement and target was still to have 43 venues for Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Coates was speaking in Australia a day after Yokokura told a video media conference of his concerns.

Devi Sridhar, a professor of Global Health at University of Edinburgh, also said holding Olympics may depend on finding a vaccine. same could apply to 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

According to Johns Hopkins University data on Wednesday, Japan h reported about 13,700 cases of COVID-19 with 394 deaths.

When delay was anunced last month, IOC President Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decided Tokyo Games would t be held beyond summer of 2021.