TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Trump says Tokyo 2020 Olympics delay better than empty seats

News Desk (Reuters)
Washington
Fri, March 13, 2020 Published on Mar. 13, 2020 Published on 2020-03-13T06:35:01+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Donald Trump (Files) Donald Trump (Files) (Bloomberg/Pool/Doug Mills)

U

S President Donald Trump said on Thursday officials should consider delaying the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games for one year amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying the summer event would not be the same without spectators.

Japanese officials have sought to squash speculation the event could be canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak as the number of cases grows worldwide, including in Japan.

"I just can't see having no people there," Trump told reporters at the White House.

"Maybe they postpone it for a year... if that's possible," he said, adding he would not officially make that recommendation to Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who could make his own decision.

"I like that better than I like having empty stadiums all over the place. I think if you cancel it, make it a year later that's a better alternative than doing it with no crowd," Trump said.

The outbreak has already crippled global travel and hit a number of sporting events. Public health officials have discouraged large gatherings in a bid to curtail the spread of the highly contagious disease, and major soccer tournaments, National Basketball Association (NBA) games and other sports have been halted.

An Olympic organizing committee board member said earlier this week any decision to delay the Summer Games would need to be made before May. On Thursday, the prelude to the games got underway with the lighting of the Olympic Torch in a scaled-down ceremony behind closed doors.

The United States is one of the biggest participants in the Games, scheduled to begin in July and expected to be a major economic boost for Japan.

 

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.