China virus spread could throw cold water on 2020 Games: chief

[February 05, 2020]  TOKYO (Reuters) - The spread of a new coronavirus could throw "cold water over the growing momentum of the 2020 Games," Tokyo Organising Committee CEO Toshiro Muto said on Wednesday.

"I am seriously concerned ... I hope this will be resolved as soon as possible," Muto said at a meeting in Tokyo with the organisers of the Paralympic Games.

Japanese government officials including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have said the government would work hard to minimise any impact from the virus outbreak on the Games, which start on July 24.

The death toll from the flu-like virus that originated in China's central city of Wuhan has passed 490, as two U.S. airlines suspended flights to Hong Kong following the first fatality there and 10 cases were confirmed on a quarantined Japanese cruise ship.

Vaccines against the virus probably won't be ready by the start of the Tokyo Summer Olympics, a professor who looked at health risks ahead of the Games told Reuters earlier, adding he hoped there was enough time to build defences.

Saburo Kawabuchi, head of the athletes' village for the 2020 Olympics, said he hoped the games would proceed smoothly, free from the virus.

Toshiro Muto, CEO of Tokyo 2020, addresses the audience at the opening of the 131st IOC session in Lima, Peru September 13, 2017. REUTERS/Guadalupe Pardo

Separately, Japan Sports Agency has started examining the impact of the virus on preparations by athletes for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, NHK reported.

Several qualifying events including badminton and boxing have been postponed due to the virus.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park, additional reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Antoni Slodkowski, Lincoln Feast and Christian Radnedge)

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