Officials say Tokyo 2020 Olympics cancellation is possible due to coronavirus
Feb. 25, 2020
•
2 min read
Officials say Tokyo 2020 Olympics cancellation is possible due to coronavirus
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The coronavirus outbreak continues to spread at a rapid rate, with Northern Italy being the latest destination to take serious precautions, canceling major events like the annual Carnevale celebration in Venice. Now, officials from the International Olympic Committee are sharing that a 2020 Summer Olympics cancellation is possible given the current status of the outbreak.
IOC member Dick Pound says Tokyo Olympic organizers have until late May to see if the virus is under control. If not, "you're probably looking at a cancellation." https://t.co/e90SS6Px8B
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— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) February 25, 2020
Dick Pound, a former Canadian swimming champion and longest-serving member of the IOC, told the Associated Press that a cancellation is more likely than postponing or moving the event, given the severity of the outbreak. The committee is planning to decide by late May, which is just two months before the July 24 Opening Ceremony.
Related: Everything you need to know about the deadly coronavirus outbreak
Nearly 11,000 athletes are expected to participate in 2020, with an estimated 7.8 million tickets allocated for spectators. As of now, Pound is encouraging athletes to continue training.
The Olympic Games were cancelled in 1916, 1940 and 1944 due to World War I and World War II. No other Olympic Games have ever been completely canceled, so a complete cancellation in 2020 would be a major development.
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Featured image by Getty Images
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TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets |
| 3X | Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels |
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For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account openingEarn 80,000 ThankYou® points60,000 pointsAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
The Citi Premier’s 3 points per dollar spent across a wide range of popular categories is one of the more lucrative offerings in the world of points and miles. The Citi Premier comes with a $95 annual fee and is currently offering a solid sign up bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months. It also has some valuable transfer partners to make the most of your rewards. Add in access to Citi Entertainment plus a $100 hotel credit for any single-stay hotel booking that exceeds $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through the Citi travel website, there are few reasons why the Citi Premier should not be in every traveler’s wallet.Pros
- Earns 3x points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels.
- $100 annual hotel savings benefit (on single hotel stay bookings of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through thankyou.com)
- Points transfer to 16 airline programs, from JetBlue to Virgin Atlantic.
- World Elite Mastercard benefits, extended warranty, damage and theft protection.
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Lacks travel protections that other travel rewards cards come with
- For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 80,000 Points are redeemable for $800 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases