Push Admin

‘We urge caution,’ WHO says on Tokyo Olympics amid pandemic

Article (news)

Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/07/03/20210701-olympics-2020.jpg"/><figcaption>A member of Germany&#x27;s rowing team member arrive at Narita airport ahead of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Haneda airport, in Tokyo in this photo taken by Kyodo July 1, 2021. <em>Kyodo via Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>GENEVA—The World Health Organization, which is advising the International Olympic Committee in the run-up to the Tokyo Games opening later this month, is urging caution so as to stem the spread of the coronavirus, a senior WHO official said on Friday.</p><p>Crowds at Euro 2020 football stadiums and in pubs and bars in host cities are driving the current rise in COVID-19 infections in Europe, the WHO&#x27;s regional office said on Thursday.</p><p>Maria van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead on COVID-19 at its global headquarters, was asked what lessons it was drawing from the Euro 2020 tournament in order to advise the IOC and Tokyo organizers ahead of the event&#x27;s opening on July 23. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/02/21/olympics-tokyo-organisers-lean-toward-banning-spectators-from-night-events-newspaper">Olympics: Tokyo organisers lean toward banning spectators from night events -newspaper</a></li></ul><p>&quot;The IOC and others have outlined their plans in taking their approach for the Olympics, and we have been engaging with them and advising them on the best use of those plans,&quot; van Kerkhove told a Geneva news conference.</p><p>She said the WHO was learning from Euro 2020, adding: &quot;If the virus is present and precautions are not in place the virus will spread.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We urge caution. We urge everyone to take caution in what they do,&quot; she added.</p><p>&quot;We urge everybody to take a risk-based approach in what they do and the decisions that they make. The choices that they make and the events they attend have consequences, good and bad.&quot; </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/01/21/travel-itinerary-for-pinoy-olympians-all-set">Travel itinerary for Pinoy Olympians all set</a></li></ul><p>Mike Ryan, head of WHO&#x27;s emergencies programme, said last month that it would discuss managing COVID-19 risks with Japanese authorities and the IOC, after organisers announced some spectators would be permitted to attend, although fans from overseas have already been banned. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay and Michael Shields; Editing by Alison Williams and Giles Elgood) </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/02/21/pinoy-swimmers-remedy-rule-luke-gebbie-going-to-olympics-ph-swim-body-confirms">Pinoy swimmers Remedy Rule, Luke Gebbie going to Olympics, PH swim body confirms</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1718860" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>A senior WHO official said the WHO was learning from Euro 2020, adding: "If the virus is present and precautions are not in place the virus will spread."</p>

A senior WHO official said the WHO was learning from Euro 2020, adding: "If the virus is present and precautions are not in place the virus will spread."

‘We urge caution,’ WHO says on Tokyo Olympics amid pandemic

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Sports

‘We urge caution,’ WHO says on Tokyo Olympics amid pandemic

Stephanie Nebehay,

Reuters

Published Jul 03, 2021 08:35 AM PHT

|

Updated Jul 03, 2021 08:38 AM PHT

Read More:

ANC

COVID-19

COVID pandemic

coronavirus

COVID Olympics

Tokyo Olympics

WHO

International Olympic Committee

IOC

Olympics caution

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.