The XXXII Olympiad may not go ahead in 2021 unless a vaccine for the coronavirus is discovered, according to a leading public health scientist at the University of Edinburgh, in the UK. “If we don’t get a scientific breakthrough then I think that (the Olympics) looks very unrealistic,” said Professor Devi Sridhar, chair of public health at the university.
Sridhar, however, applauded the initial postponement of the event. “They’ve made the right decision in saying ‘we are going to put it back a year and re-evaluate’.” The 2020 Olympics was originally scheduled to begin in the northern summer, with the opening ceremony planned for July 24. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic, however, saw the Games being moved forward to 2021. The start date has now been set for Friday 23, July 2021, with the event to run until Sunday, August 8. Sridhar did not rule out the the games going ahead if there was a breakthrough in development of a vaccine for the virus by then. “We’re hearing from the scientists that this (vaccine) could be possible,” Sridhar said.
“I had thought it would be a year, or a year-and-a-half away but we’re hearing possibly this could come sooner.”
“If we do get a vaccine within the next year then actually I think that (Olympics) is realistic.”
Japan’s dexterity in dealing with the spread of the virus has drawn worldwide praise, with less than 100 deaths reported so far. However, there have been signs of upswings in infections in regions that have eased restrictions on movement.
Initially the country’s prime minister Shinzo Abe and IOC President, Thomas Bach insisted it was business as usual for the Games to take place this July.
But after international pressure, officials bowed to demands from world leaders to press pause on what could be a social “petri dish” for the spread of the disease.
Scientists around the world are in a race to find a cure for the deadly virus, which has claimed the lives of many across the world. “The vaccine will be the game-changer – an effective, affordable, available vaccine,” Sridhar said.
