IOC, UEFA monitoring coronavirus threat ahead of Olympics, Euro 2020

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) are both assessing the threat of coronavirus ahead of major competitions this summer.

Dick Pound, the longest-serving member of the IOC, estimates there's a three-month window to decide the status of the 2020 Olympics, which are scheduled to kick off on July 24 in Tokyo, Japan.

"You could certainly go to two months out if you had to," Pound told The Associated Press. "A lot of things have to start happening. You've got to start ramping up your security, your food, the Olympic Village, the hotels. The media folks will be in there building their studios."

While Pound did not express alarm, he added that organizers are "probably looking at a cancellation" if the virus ultimately threatens the Summer Games.

On Tuesday, China reported 508 new cases of coronavirus and an additional 71 deaths. The central city of Wuhan, where the virus was first detected in December, witnessed 68 of those deaths. That update brings mainland China's totals to 77,658 cases and 2,663 deaths.

The virus has also spread outside of China, with Italy reporting a rise in cases from 229 to 260 overnight. Italian league football matches in northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto were suspended on the weekend, and several others will be played behind closed doors.

Rome is set to host three 2020 European Championship matches this summer, and while the virus has yet to be detected in the Lazio region, UEFA is on alert. For the first time in the competition's history, the Euros are set to be hosted across 12 venues.

"We are at the waiting stage. We are monitoring country by country, and football must follow the orders of the individual countries," Italian UEFA executive committee member Michele Uva told Reuters.

Like Pound, Uva speculates that tournament cancellations will only be considered if the situation deteriorates further.