IOC must be given time to decide Tokyo Games' future, says Lange

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach speaks next to IOC Director of Communications Mark Adams at a news conference following the IOC executive board meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 29, 2015. Beijing and Almaty, bidding for the 2022 Games, are doing last-minute campaigning as the host city for those Olympics will be announced on Friday after a vote of IOC members in the Malaysian capital. REUTERS/Olivia Harris

(Reuters) - Argentine sailor Santiago Lange said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) deserves more time to decide on potentially postponing the Tokyo Games but the well-being of athletes should be a top priority as the coronavirus pandemic spreads.

On Sunday the IOC said it would hold discussions that would include an option of putting back the July 24 start date or even moving the Games by a year or more due to the global coronavirus outbreak.