While the IOC currently insists this summer’s Olympics will start in July, one Japanese official suggested they could be postponed by one or two years, if they are not able to go on as scheduled because of the coronoavirus.

Haruyuki Takahashi, a member of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee’s executive board, told the Wall Street Journal that the Games being outright canceled would have too big a of a financial impact.

“I don’t think the Games could be canceled. It’d be a delay,” Takahashi told The Wall Street Journal. “The International Olympic Committee would be in trouble if there’s a cancellation. American TV rights alone provide them with a huge amount.”

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Officials have been non-committal about contingency plans and any postponement or delay would cause a ripple effect among athletic competition calendars, in addition to the economic damage.

Last week, NBC Sports said it had sold more advertising inventory than it did for all of the 2016 Games in Rio.

The coronavirus, which started in China, has been detected in more than 70 countries. It has been blamed for 12 deaths in Japan, where schools have been closed for the rest of the month.

There will be no spectators at this week’s torch lighting ceremony in Greece.

PREVENTION TIPS

Much like how you would try to prevent the flu, you want to stay away from people who are sick and practice good hygiene, says the CDC.

The latter means thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid touching your mouth or face unless your hands are clean.

Use household cleaners to disinfect commonly touched objects and surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your hands or surfaces such as shopping-cart handles when out in public.

Some people are going the extra step and using smartphone sanitizers as a precaution, but a disinfecting wipe used lightly on the outside will likely work fine, too.

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