Olympic swimmers tell of fears Tokyo Games will be cancelled over coronavirus fears

Swimmers preparing to compete in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics have spoken of their fears that the games could be cancelled amid coronavirus fears. 

Hungarian Katinka Hosszu, 30, who has previously won three medals, said the event not going ahead ‘is a nightmare’ for athletes.

However organisers of the games, which are set to start on July 24, have insisted it is not in danger of being scrapped.

It comes as Ireland’s Six Nations clash with Italy was called off and Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe said that all sporting events must be scrapped for two weeks. 

Athletes preparing to compete in the Tokyo Olympics have spoken of their worries about the event being cancelled due to coronavirus (pictured two people wear face masks at the Japan Olympic Museum in Tokyo)

Speaking after a two-hour training session swimmers Katinka Hosszu, Chad le Clos and Sarah Sjostrom – who have won 11 Olympic medals between them – discussed their worries about the Olympics.  

Ms Hosszu, whose nickname is The Iron Lady, said: ‘For the athletes the best (solution) is just to focus on your preparation. I see the news, but in my mind I’m prepared until it’s on. So I have to be ready.

‘I really can’t even imagine having the Olympics canceled. For athletes, it’s a nightmare. That’s our life – preparing for the biggest event in swimming.’

Tokyo Olympic organizers and the Japanese government responded on Wednesday to comments made by former International Olympic Committee vice president Dick Pound, who said the 2020 Games could be canceled if the virus isn’t contained.

Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu, 30, (pictured training in Naples) who has previously won three medals, said the event not going ahead 'is a nightmare' for athletes

Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu, 30, (pictured training in Naples) who has previously won three medals, said the event not going ahead ‘is a nightmare’ for athletes

Despite worries about the games, Ms Hosszu (pictured during training on Wednesday) said she will continue focusing on her preparation for the international event

Despite worries about the games, Ms Hosszu (pictured during training on Wednesday) said she will continue focusing on her preparation for the international event

Speaking at conference Tokyo organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto said: ‘We have not thought about it [scrapping the games]. We have not heard about it. We have made inquiries, and we were told there is no such plan.

‘Our basic thinking is to conduct the Olympics and Paralympics as planned. That’s our assumption.’

‘For the time being, the situation of the coronavirus infection is, admittedly, difficult to predict, but we will take measures such that we’ll have a safe Olympic and Paralympic Games.’

However the CEO did acknowledge adjustments might need to be made for the torch relay which is scheduled to start on March 26 in Fukushima.      

He said: ‘We are absolutely not considering cancelling it. But we will think about how we can hold it in ways that won’t lead to the spread of the virus, including reducing its scale.’

More than 80,000 people have been infected and more than 2,700 killed since the viral outbreak began in China – with the bulk of them in that country. Five deaths in Japan have been attributed to the virus. 

South African swimmer Chad Le Clos, who calls himself a 'germophobe,' said he always travels with a face mask and that coronavirus is 'a terrible thing'

South African swimmer Chad Le Clos, who calls himself a ‘germophobe,’ said he always travels with a face mask and that coronavirus is ‘a terrible thing’

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said his country should scrap sporting events for two weeks in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said his country should scrap sporting events for two weeks in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus

The Olympic swimmers have already had to adjust their training schedules because of the virus’ spread in Europe.

Ms Hosszu, who moved her departure from Naples by two days to Thursday after the coronavirus spread in northern Italy, said ‘honestly there is no really good option if it’s [the Olympics] canceled’ but added ‘postponing is definitely better than altogether cancel.’ 

While Mr Le Clos, who calls himself a ‘germophobe,’ said he always travels with a face mask.

‘We have to just not shake too many hands, not touch too much stuff,’ the South African said in an interview arranged through his sponsor, Arena. ‘It’s a terrible thing that’s happened. Hopefully it can get cured soon and we’re going to proceed to the Olympics.

Sarah Sjostrom (pictured training in Naples) said the virus is 'scary' and revealed that she has already changed her plans after she was supposed to swim at a meet in Milan this weekend that was canceled because of the spread of the virus in northern Italy

Sarah Sjostrom (pictured training in Naples) said the virus is ‘scary’ and revealed that she has already changed her plans after she was supposed to swim at a meet in Milan this weekend that was canceled because of the spread of the virus in northern Italy

The elite swimmers (pictured Sarah Sjostrom) are currently being coached by James Gibson in Italy, but he's considering moving back to the team's base in Turkey

The elite swimmers (pictured Sarah Sjostrom) are currently being coached by James Gibson in Italy, but he’s considering moving back to the team’s base in Turkey

‘Obviously I don’t want it to be canceled, but if it gets canceled I will train another six months or another year,’ Mr Le Clos added. ‘My approach is not just to Tokyo, I’m looking beyond that.’

Ms Sjostrom, 26, was supposed to swim at a meet in Milan this weekend that was canceled because of the spread of the virus in northern Italy.

‘Of course, it’s definitely on my mind,’ Ms Sjostrom said. ‘We are reminded about it every day. I read the news. It’s a bit scary.

‘People are traveling so much, even me, so that’s why the virus is spreading,’ the Swedish swimmer added. ‘I hope we can calm it down very, very soon.’

The swimmers were taking part in a training camp for the Energy Standard team coached by James Gibson. Hosszu, who is not part of the team, was invited as a guest.

Coach Mr Gibson insisted that fears over the virus doesn't change the training (pictured is Le Clos in the pool on Wednesday)

Coach Mr Gibson insisted that fears over the virus doesn’t change the training (pictured is Le Clos in the pool on Wednesday)

‘Yes, there is a chance that the Olympics could be canceled,’ Mr Gibson said. ‘And if it is, you just deal with that. You have to trust the powers that be that they’ll never put people in risky situations.’

More urgently for Mr Gibson is deciding if he should keep his swimmers in Italy until Saturday as scheduled or go back earlier to the team’s base in Turkey.

‘We have an exit strategy. The swimmers themselves are aware what’s going on but that doesn’t change your training,’ Mr Gibson said. 

He added: ‘You still go train as if you’re going to go and become an Olympic champion. You don’t let go of that. Everyone in the world is in the same boat.’

The Chinese football team have also seen their Olympic preparations hindered by coronavirus, after they were quarantined in Australia.

While being isolated after arriving for a qualifying tournament the group, nicknamed the Steel Roses, stretched in their hotel corridor and ran up stairs to stay fit.  

In preparation of the Olympics this summer, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called for all sports in the country to be scrapped for a fortnight in a desperate bid to stop the spread of coronavirus. 

On Tuesday, senior International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound described the disease as ‘the new war’ threatening Tokyo 2020 and warned the Games may have to be cancelled if the virus was still around by May.

On Tuesday, senior International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound warned the games may have to be cancelled if the virus was still around by May (a man is seen in Tokyo)

On Tuesday, senior International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound warned the games may have to be cancelled if the virus was still around by May (a man is seen in Tokyo)

The Japanese government have since insisted Pound’s comments were not the IOC’s official stance. 

But PM Abe said: ‘Taking into account that the next one to two weeks are extremely important in stopping the spread of infection, the government considers there to be a large risk of transmission at sports, cultural events and large gatherings of people.’ 

Following Abe’s call, Japan’s main baseball league announced they would hold all 72 of their remaining pre-season games behind closed doors ahead of the start of the regular season on March 20.

Rugby’s Top League has postponed 16 games over the next two weekends, while football’s J.League had already halted all matches until March 15. All boxing bouts in Japan next month have also been scrapped.

Last week, it was announced that the Tokyo Marathon, which was scheduled for Sunday, had been called off. Tokyo 2020 chiefs have also postponed training for Olympic volunteers.

And as well as worries about the Olympics, other sporting events have been affected by coronavirus. 

Ireland’s Six Nations clash with Italy in Dublin has been called off with the Irish government taking the step to postpone the game on March 7. Both the women’s Six Nations and Under-20 clashes have also been cancelled.

While the FA is holding urgent talks over the impact of coronavirus on England’s Wembley friendly with Italy next month.  

More than 370 people have been diagnosed with the virus in Italy, with nearly a dozen towns put into quarantine. Twelve people are known to have died.

Thousands of fans were scheduled to travel to London for the Euro 2020 warm-up on March 27, but there are now fears that the game could be under threat.  

While Inter Milan’s Europa League match at home to Ludogorets will be played behind closed doors on Thursday. 

Players in the Ludogorets squad wore face masks and protective gloves as they arrived in Milan on Wednesday

Players in the Ludogorets squad wore face masks and protective gloves as they arrived in Milan on Wednesday

Players in the Ludogorets squad were seen wearing face masks and protective gloves as they arrived in Milan on Wednesday.  

Furthermore, club fitness coach Ivan Diaz Infantes was not happy with how the virus had altered the preparation of the side, saying he has ‘never seen anything like it.

‘This has transformed our plans because we were supposed to stay in Milan for two nights, arriving the day before and then leaving the day after,’ he told Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo. 

‘Instead, we are now leaving Milan straight after the match. During our stay, we have been asked to stay in our hotel rooms for as long as possible, to step outside just to eat, and try not to interact with the hotel staff. 

‘It’s going to be a great game in a wonderful stadium, even if it’s empty.’ 

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