Beijing 2022 organisers were “pressing ahead” with preparations for the Winter Olympics after a senior IOC official warned the coronavirus could force the Games to be postponed.

Beijing is due to host the Winter Olympics just six months after the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, which have been put back a year to July-August 2021 because of the coronavirus.

In a statement to AFP, Beijing 2022 said the IOC is ploughing on with both Games as planned, despite the coronavirus still claiming lives in much of the world.

“As far as we know, the position of the IOC is very clear and remains unchanged,” Beijing organisers said. “They are fully concentrated and committed to the successful delivery” of both the Tokyo and Beijing Games, they added.