Thomas Bach has acknowledged that Tokyo 2020 would be cancelled should the Olympic Games not be held in 2021, while the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President confirmed that different scenarios are being considered over the potential impact of coronavirus on the postponed event.
Bach made the comments in an interview with the BBC, nearly two months after Tokyo 2020 and the IOC announced the postponement of the Games until next year.
The rescheduled Olympic Games are due to take place from July 23rd to August 8th in 2021, with the Paralympic Games following from August 24th to September 5th.
Concerns remain over whether the multi-sport events will be able to take place due to the ongoing global health crisis, with more than five million coronavirus cases and 330,000 deaths now reported since the outbreak began.
Opinions have differed on whether a vaccine would be required for Tokyo 2020 to take place, with Japan Medical Association President Yoshitake Yokokura suggesting last month it would be hard to host the Games without this in place.
Bach has repeatedly sought to quell "speculation", with the IOC President telling the BBC the organization is relying on experts.
"For this question, we are relying on the advice of the World Health Organization," he said.
"We have established one principle: to organise these Games in a safe environment for all the participants.
"Nobody knows what the world will look like in one year, in two months.
"So we have to rely on [experts] and then take the appropriate decision at the appropriate time based on this advice."
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