The International Olympic Committee's Executive Board will meet this coming week, months ahead of schedule, to talk about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on training for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

According to a statement released Friday by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the IOC is polling all National Olympic Committees to determine the virus' impact on training and will hold an Executive Board meeting the following week to discuss the findings.

The meeting comes just a week after the Olympic governing body said it was "fully committed" to holding this summer's Olympics, set to begin on July 24, on schedule in the Japanese capital.

The USOPC issued the statement in response to USA Swimming's call earlier Friday to postpone the Tokyo Games for one year.

"(The IOC) believe that it is premature to make a final call on the date of the games and we believe that we should afford them the opportunity to gather more data and expert advice before insisting that a decision be made," the USOPC said.

IOC President Thomas Bach has reportedly said the IOC is "considering different scenarios" for this summer's games amid the coronavirus pandemic.

(Thomas Bach)


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According to sources cited by Reuters on Sunday, Tokyo organizers have begun preparing for alternative scenarios in case of postponement. Publicly, both the local organizers and the Japanese government have steadfastly refused to accept any alternatives to the Olympic Games as currently planned.

The French Swimming Federation also called on the IOC to delay the games, saying Saturday it is "unacceptable" to hold the games this summer and that the Olympic body should put its efforts into looking at options for postponement.

World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe told Reuters on Saturday that a decision on the games "may become very obvious very quickly in the coming days and weeks."

"As I said last week, I don't think we should have the Olympic Games at all costs, certainly not at the cost of athlete safety," Coe said.

American track and field legend Carl Lewis, who won nine Olympic gold medals during his career, offered his support to USA Track and Field, which has asked the USOPC to advocate Olympic postponement on its behalf.

"I just think it's really difficult for an athlete to prepare, to train, to keep their motivation if there's complete uncertainty," Lewis said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "That's the hardest thing. Because it's a health issue, it's beyond everyone's control. I think most athletes are accepting that."

"The athletes cannot prepare for an Olympic Games if they don't have an Olympic Trials, if they don't have competition," Lewis said. "I think that USATF, in this case, stepped up. I think that they're creating a voice that puts the athletes first and I think the athletes appreciate it."

U.S. President Donald Trump said at a White House press conference on Saturday that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to make a decision soon on whether to hold the games as planned.