Holding the Olympics in July seems a terrible idea given where we stand over Covid-19

While officials are bullish about the start of the games, people in Japan would prefer another postponement, says Janet Street-Porter

Already postponed a year, the Olympic Games is currently slated to begin in July (AFP/Getty)

Should the Olympics be cancelled? Looking at the chaos surrounding the Australian Open tennis tournament (this week 507 players and officials were ordered to isolate after a hotel worker tested positive for Covid-19), it does seem utterly bonkers to stage the Olympics in Tokyo in July.

Unfortunately, Olympic sport is controlled by a bunch of old-school macho men who make remarks like “there is no plan B” when faced with a mutating virus over which they have no control. I refer to Thomas Bach, IOC president, who spouted those very words in March last year as coronavirus swept around the world.

As infections surged and fatalities rose into millions, Bach was forced to eat his words, and the games were reluctantly rescheduled for the first time in their 125-year history. Covid is still here – so should the Tokyo Olympics take place at all? With or without spectators? And at what cost to the population of a country that has yet to start vaccinations? Even last month, Bach was still saying there is “no plan B”.