The International Olympic Committee has informed all National Olympic Committees to continue consultations with all actors of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee has informed all National Olympic Committees to continue consultations with all actors of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Yesterday's statement set out the principles established by the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee, asking all interested parties to do everything in their power and ability to contribute to the fight against coronavirus. The leaders of the International Olympic Committee pointed out that the new situation is unprecedented for the whole world and that the IOC standswith those affected by this crisis. The situation regarding the spread of coronavirus greatly affects the preparation and organization of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, but the International Olympic Committee remains fully committed to the organization of the Games and notes that, given that we are more than four months away from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, there is no need for drastic decisions at this stage and all the speculation at this point is counterproductive. The most important information from the IOC press release is listed below:

"This is an unprecedented situation for the whole world and in our minds all the people are affected by the crisis. We stand in solidarity with the whole society in an effort to do everything we can to stop the spread of the virus. The situation related to the COVID-19 virus significantly affects the preparations for the "Tokyo 2020" Olympic Games, and is changing from day to day. The International Olympic Committee remains fully committed to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where more than four months are left until the Games.  There is no need for drastic decisions, and at this point any speculation could be counterproductive. The IOC encourages all athletes to continue preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. We will continue to support them, consult with them and their National Olympic Committees, and keep them all informed of new information and developments. The information will be available to all athletes through the Athlete365 website and through their National Olympic Committees and international federations. The IOC believes that a number of measures taken by authorities in countries around the world will help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In this regard, the IOC welcomes the support of G7 leaders expressed by Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, saying: "We want to hold the perfect Olympic and Paralympic Games, as a proof that the human race will win the new coronavirus, for which we received support from G7 leaders."

We will continue to act responsibly and we have agreed on the most important principles regarding the organization of the Olympic Games "Tokyo 2020", which are:

Protect the health of all people involved, and provide support to prevent the spread of the virus, Protect the interests of athletes and Olympic sports. The IOC will continue to monitor developments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The IOC working group that was established in February, will continue to work closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Organizing Committee, the Japanese authorities and the Tokyo City Government. The IOC will continue to follow the instructions of its working group and IOC decisions will not be determined by financial interests.

Currently, all Olympic movement participants and athletes face significant challenges to secure qualifying places to perform at the Games. In some countries, it is even difficult for athletes to continue with the regular training. The IOC is encouraged by the solidarity and flexibility shown by athletes, international organizations and National Olympic Committees.

To this date, 57% of athletes have already qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. For the remaining 43% of seats, the IOC will cooperate with international federations on all necessary and practical adjustments to their qualification systems for "Tokyo 2020", adhering to the following principles:

*All quotas allocated so far remain with the National Olympic Committees and the athletes who won them

* There remains the possibility of playing scheduled qualifying events, no matter where they are with equal access for all athletes and teams

* All necessary adjustments to the qualifications system and the distribution of the remaining places will be: - Based on the results on the battlefields ( rankings of international federations or past results)

                          - Where possible, the existing principles of certain qualification systems will be reflected (ranking or results in certain continental or regional competitions)

*Any increase in quotas for athletes will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all the circumstances, with the support of the Organizing Committee of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

International sports federations will provide proposals for adjustments of their qualification systems based on the principles that are stated above. The IOC has already introduced an accelerated procedure to address this situation. All the necessary revisions of the sports qualification systems for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be announced in early April 2020 and will be communicated to all the participants in the Olympic movement.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: "Our main concern is the health and well-being of all those involved in the preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. All measures are being taken to protect the safety and interests of athletes, coaches and support staff. We are the Olympic community, we support each other in both good and difficult times. It is this Olympic solidarity that defines us as a community. "

The President of the Federation of International Summer Olympic Federations (ASOIF), Francesco Ricci Bitti, added: “I would like to thank all those who are involved in the organization of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and all the athletes and international sports federations for their great flexibility. We share the same approach and the same principles as the International Olympic Committee, and together with the IOC we are committed to the same goal - the successful Tokyo 2020 Olympics. We will stay in touch and continue to consult with all the involved parties. 

After consulting the international federations, the IOC will consult National Olympic Committees and representatives of athletes in the coming days."