The forensic, detailed program in place for Australia's swimmers could not be more at odds with the chaos and concern surrounding the continued spread of coronavirus, which now threatens the very Olympics in which they are so desperate to compete. Titmus knows about it of course but can't allow herself to ponder whether or not Tokyo's Olympics will be threatened, postponed or even cancelled. A woman wearing a face mask has her photo taken with the Olympic mascots in Tokyo. Credit:AP "I'm not really worried about it. Training has been my number one priority. Obviously it's been in the media a lot but it's not my job to worry about it. I'm just worried about swimming the best I can and get myself onto that team," Titmus said on Wednesday. Her coach Dean Boxall was of a similar mindset.

"We haven't even spoken about it," Boxall said. "We have a job to do. People above us will look after us in that area. We trust them." Loading Those in positions of trust are the Australian Olympic Committee and by proxy, the International Olympic Committee. Both had been playing a cool hand on the unfolding crisis until veteran IOC member Dick Pound deviated from the company line, telling the Associated Press that organisers had until May to make a decision on the viability of the gargantuan multi-sport event. "In and around that time, I'd say folks are going to have to ask: 'Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not?'" Pound said. More than 80,000 cases have been reported around the world, with some 2700 deaths. After originating in China, there are now hot spots in South Korea, Iran, Italy, while Olympic host national Japan has had four deaths. It appears to be inevitable that the World Health Organisation declares the disease a pandemic.

As it stands, Tokyo 2020 keeps hurtling towards its opening ceremony on July 24. Preparations continue to progress at pace and in March, an advance team from the AOC will visit, along with officials and coaches from various sports, to familiarise themselves with the venues, accommodation and facilities. It's not quite 'nothing to see here' from Olympic officials but it is now abundantly clear the outbreak has far exceeded the threat of the Zika virus to the Rio Games four years ago. That turned out to be a minimal cause for concern; as coronavirus spreads its tentacles across the globe, Games organisers are now on the highest levels of alert. Cancelling an Olympic Games would be one of the most dramatic moves in the history of world sport. The Games have previously only been halted at times of global wars. Talk of moving it to another city or region within a two-month window is beyond fanciful. With a seemingly infinite amount of moving parts, in 2020 it's Tokyo or bust. The only precious metal would be fool's gold if the stars of the show were exposed to infection. The cost to Tokyo organisers would be stupendous, even if it was simply put back a year and a Games held in a non-traditional Olympic year, which in turn would catapult a host of other events into disarray. It may not be so for broadcasters like NBC, who have insurance policies against such happenings, or the IOC, which brandishes a $US900m fund primarily used to fund smaller sports but ideal as a hefty economic backstop.