Credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

Since its discovery in late-2019, the highly-publicised coronavirus has been the topic of debate and concern from all corners of the world. Since a deadly outbreak in Italy as well as Japan and South Korea, major events have been cancelled. Now, all eyes are on how the disease will affect the forthcoming Summer Olympic Games, set to be held in Tokyo.

Causing panic around the globe, the Guardian has reported that Dick Pound, a senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) member who has been on the IOC since 1978, believes a cancellation – rather than a postponement or relocation – is quite possible for the upcoming event. Though, he reassures there  is a two-month window where an official decision will be made.

“In and around that time, I’d say folks are going to have to ask: ‘Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not?” Pound told Associated Press. “A lot of things have to start happening. You’ve got to start ramping up your security, your food, the Olympic Village, the hotels. The media folks will be in there, building their studios.”

J-League in Japan was postponed until March 15. Training for 80,000 Olympic volunteers has been delayed for at least two months, the Guardian reports.

Stay tuned for further developments.