Peter Sherrard, the CEO of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, is confident the Tokyo Olympics will proceed as planned but insists neither the OFI or the International Olympic Committee are being complacent about the threat of the coronavirus.
The Guinness Six Nations match between Ireland and Italy, and the corresponding Women's and Under 20's clashes have been called off, with UEFA monitoring the situation ahead of Euro 2020.
Sherrard told RTÉ Sport: "From our point of view, the games are still five months away and in Tokyo, the latest advice that they have - this is the Japanese Government and World Health Authority - is that they believe the Games will go ahead.
"I definitely believe that, but at the same time we're not being complacent about it. Nor are the Japanese authorities or the IOC.
"It's continuing to be monitored and I think we have to continue to plan as (though) the Games are going ahead.
"I'm really not too sure [about a cut-off date for decision]. The International Federation look after the arrangements for the Games.
"What I would say is that they are capable of showing a great deal of flexibility and agility in reacting to the situation that we have at the moment."
Olympic Federation of Ireland CEO Peter Sherrard tells @EvanneNiC that despite the threat of #coronavirus, "In Tokyo, the latest advice is that they believe the Games will go ahead" #Olympics2020 #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/VWKYm7PtYu
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 26, 2020
The OFI also announced that Team Ireland athletes will fly business class to the Olympics for the first time thanks to a sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways.
In another new departure, they will allow athletes aligned with a gear sponsor other than the Team Ireland official Adidas sponsor to apply to give recognition to their personal sponsor in a social media post during the Games.
