BARCELONA: Spanish Olympic boss Alejandro Blanco said he has no doubts that the 2021 Tokyo Games will go ahead despite concerns over qualifying and the Olympic Village.
The global coronavirus pandemic forced the postponement of the 2020 Olympics by a year to July 23-August 8, 2021.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper Diario AS on Wednesday, Blanco said: “The coming together of 206 countries after this health and economic crisis would be a sign that we have passed the worst. They will be the most celebrated Games in history.”
On the possible difficulties, he said: “The first problem will be recovering normality in all countries and the second that international federations set dates for qualifying tournaments that have not yet been held.
“As of today, the calendars are not closed and when they are defined, the correct sanitary conditions may not be in place, or athletes from other countries will not be allowed to enter.”
Another potential problem for next year is the Olympic Village with many of its apartments already sold and due to be handed over to their owners this October.
“Some 20,000 people have to sleep there. I can’t imagine a Games without an Olympic Village. I have no doubt that there will be a 2021 Games.”
