Saint-Denis (AFP)
"It is better to be behind closed doors than not at all", said Wednesday Tony Estanguet, president of the organizing committee of the Olympics-2024 in Paris, about the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for this summer and under the threat of covid- 19.
Asked by AFP on what would mean for him the Olympic Games in Tokyo (July 23-August 8) without spectators, Tony Estanguet replied: "I would regret it terribly, but the reality is that we have to adapt".
"It is better to be behind closed doors than not at all," he added, on the sidelines of a visit to the new headquarters of the organizing committee (Cojo) in Saint-Denis.
"Everything is implemented by the organizing committee and the authorities so that the Games can take place," continued the three-time Olympic canoe champion.
"We can see that it is very difficult for this organizing committee and the authorities to deal with this health crisis," he added.
"I have the impression, having exchanged a few days ago with the IOC, that everything is thought out, imagined to be able to adapt according to the health context, to find the solution so that the Games take place, with more or fewer spectators, it could even be behind closed doors if ever the sanitary conditions required it, but the will is very strong to maintain this event, "he added.
The Paris Games shifted to 2028?
"No, this is not planned," replied Mr. Estanguet.
Those responsible for the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled for this summer after being postponed last year because of the pandemic, are "inflexible" on this new schedule, told AFP the director general of the organizing committee Toshiro Muto .
However, he did not rule out that the Games (23 July-8 August) could be held without spectators.
On Monday, the organizers announced that the number of athletes at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Tokyo Olympics should be reduced because of the pandemic of the new coronavirus.
© 2021 AFP