Canadian IOC member Dick Pound said it is uncertain whether the postponed 2021 Olympic Games will be held because of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak throughout Japan. The Games were postponed due to last summer's coronavirus outbreak and were scheduled to run from July 23 to August 8 this year.

"The ongoing elephant in the room would be the surge of the virus, so I can't say for sure," Pound said in an interview with BBC Sport (opens in new tab).

Pound's uncertainty came after Prime Minister Yoshihide Kan declared a state of emergency in Tokyo on Thursday. The emergency declaration will remain in effect until the first week of February.

Yoshihide Suga said there was a "sense of urgency" when he announced the emergency COVID-19 plan; BBC Sport reports that he also said "the declaration provides an opportunity for Tokyo 2020 to plan for a safe and secure Games this summer."

The IOC is reportedly considering ensuring that athletes are vaccinated against COVID-19 before they travel to Tokyo; the IOC had previously stated that athletes were not required to be vaccinated, but BBC Sport reports that President Pound may make it a condition before entering Japan. He has suggested the possibility of making it a condition before entry to Japan.

BBC Sport reports that "the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee are fully aligned in their commitment to have as many foreign participants as possible vaccinated before the Games," the IOC said.

"Athletes are important role models, and by vaccinating them, we can send a powerful message that vaccination is not only about personal health, but also about solidarity and concern for the health of others in the community."

Pound told Sky News on Wednesday that countries will still be in charge of vaccinations, but advocated that Olympic athletes be given priority to be vaccinated so that the Olympic Games scheduled for July can take place as planned.

"There may be 300 or 400 athletes in Canada. To have Canada represented in an international event of that size, character, and level, we would have to vaccinate 300 or 400 out of millions, and I don't think there would be any public outcry about that," Pound told Sky News.

"It's up to each country to decide, and some would say jump the queue, but I think that's the most realistic approach."