NHK



 

Japan's Sports Agency has begun examining the impact the coronavirus outbreak could be having on athletes preparing for the Olympic and Paralympic games, which open in Tokyo in about six months.

The Sports Agency is surveying Japanese sports associations to assess how the outbreak has affected athletes' training camps and international competitions inside and outside Japan.

The survey is being conducted through several organizations, including the Japan Olympic Committee and Japanese Para-Sports Association.
The Sports Agency hopes to report its findings by mid-February.

The agency is urging athletes and support staff at the athletic organizations to continue exercising caution regarding activities abroad. It plans to work together with relevant associations to consider measures based on the information gathered.

As the coronavirus outbreak spreads, a number of Olympic qualifying events originally scheduled to be held in China are being rescheduled in other locations. They include soccer, table tennis, as well as track and field.