Organizers lit the Olympic torch in ancient Olympia, Greece, on Thursday, despite suggestions from U.S. President Donald Trump that the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo might be canceled.

The problem is that almost all of the potential Olympic qualifiers around the world have been canceled or are in danger of being canceled in an effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

The International Olympic Committee assured the world in a statement that the Olympics are still on the calendar and are "fully in line with our Japanese hosts in our commitment to deliver a safe Olympics this July," the press release stated.

"With 19 weeks until the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the many measures being taken by authorities around the world give us confidence that we are committed to delivering an Olympic Games that can bring the world together in peace," the IOC said in a press release.

The IOC acknowledged that International Sports Federations and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) face challenges in the selection process for key events that have now been cancelled.

The IOC said it is working with stakeholders to be flexible in the qualifying process.

"The IOC is proud of the solidarity and flexibility shown by athletes, International Federations and National Olympic Committees. Together we are tackling this challenge.

"The IOC is working closely with all parties and has shown all the flexibility necessary to adapt the qualification system. We are also working with all other stakeholders (including rights-holding broadcasters and sponsors) to address the current situation.

"Through the Joint Task Force established in mid-February, we are in close contact with the World Health Organization (WHO), the host city of Tokyo, the Government of Japan, and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, and the IOC will continue to follow the advice of the WHO, the leading UN agency on this subject.

For example, USA Cycling based its Olympic long teams for the road race and individual time trial on the 2019 UCI Road World Championships Elite Men's and Women's races, with any medalist automatically nominated. Only time trial world champion Chloe Dygert meets that criteria.

All other Olympic long team criteria are based on events held between April 1 and May 1, i.e., the top 10 American riders in the top 100 UCI road rankings or the winner of a World Tour One-Day Race.2019 U.S. National Time Trial winners (Amber Neben and Ian Garrison) and road winners (Alex Howes and Ruth Winder) are the only athletes to meet the criteria to receive a long team recommendation.

"We are taking it one day at a time and working with all parties involved to monitor the impact of the cancellation on the qualification process," a USA Cycling spokesperson told Cycling News. The new selection criteria will be announced as soon as more details become available."

USA Cycling has qualified 17 cyclists for the 2020 Olympics.