The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reiterated that canceling the Olympics "is not on the agenda," but announced Sunday that it will decide within four weeks whether the coronavirus pandemic will force a postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to open on July 24.

The IOC's Executive Board (EB) said that canceling the Olympics "will not solve any problems or help anyone," but will "modify the existing operational plan to hold the Olympic Games on July 24, 2020, and also change the start date of the Games" in connection with the Games' " . to enhance scenario planning."

IOC President Thomas Bach said the IOC wants to be part of the solution. He said, "Human life takes precedence over everything else, including the holding of the Games.

"That is why our first principle is to protect the health of everyone involved and to contribute to the containment of the virus. I hope and I know that the hopes expressed by the many athletes, NOCs and IFs from all five continents will be fulfilled, and we are all working hard to achieve this." We are all going through this dark tunnel together, and I don't know how long it is, but that the Olympic flame will be the light at the end of this tunnel."

The move comes as the number of Covid-19 cases approaches the 300,000 mark and the number of deaths exceeds 11,000, This comes after calls for a postponement of the Olympics have grown increasingly fervent.

"This measure will allow us to better monitor the rapidly changing health situation in the world and in Japan," the IOC press release stated. It stated.

On Saturday, the president of the Dutch cycling federation (KNWU) joined the chorus of those calling for the postponement of the Games, and on Sunday, athletes' training was hampered, qualifying events were postponed or canceled, and many countries have banned large gatherings to slow the progress of the virus and even more federations have publicly stated their support for a change in schedule.

Japan was among the countries where 50,000 people lined up this weekend for the traditional ceremony to welcome the Olympic torch. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the first death from Covid-19 in Japan occurred on February 12, but by Saturday the number had risen to 33.

The IOC said the improved situation in Japan strengthened its confidence that the country could host the Olympics "under certain safety restrictions" and without jeopardizing the health of participants. However, the IOC recognized that other countries, such as Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Iran, had been less successful than Asian countries in containing the spread of the virus.

"This led the EB (Executive Board) to conclude that the IOC needed to take the next step in scenario planning," the press release stated.

Commenting on the postponement of the Games, IOC President Thomas Bach told Germany's SWR television, "The Olympic Games are a complex undertaking. The Olympic Games are a complex undertaking and we can only act responsibly if there is a clear decision-making basis."

The IOC emphasized the availability of venues, hotel reservations, and the entire international sports calendar. They sought the cooperation of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, Japanese authorities, International Sports Federations, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), broadcasters, sponsors, partners, suppliers, and contractors.

"In this spirit of Olympic stakeholders' shared commitment to the Olympic Games, and in light of the deteriorating global situation, the IOC EB today launched the next step in the IOC's scenario planning process."