The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees have made the “difficult decision” to not send teams to the Tokyo 2020 games, citing a global health crisis that is far more significant than sport.
“With COVID-19 and the associated risks, it is not safe for our athletes, and the health and safety of their families and the broader Canadian community for athletes to continue training towards these Games,” COC and CPC said in a joint statement.
Also on rt.com Japan and IOC are resisting pressure to postpone Tokyo Olympics… but for how much longer?This is not solely about athlete health – it is about public health.
The decision comes mere hours after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the first time admitted that postponing the event may become an ‘option’ if the spread of the coronavirus pandemic prevents Japan from hosting the games in their “complete form.”
If that becomes difficult, we may have no option but to consider postponing the Games.
At an emergency meeting on Sunday, the International Olympic Committee set a four-week deadline in which to decide on the fate of the event. The Tokyo Games are due to be held from July 24 to August 9, with the Paralympics following from August 25 to September 6. However, organizers have come under increasing pressure to put the events back by a year amid the Covid-19 pandemic which has infected more than 330,000 people worldwide and claimed over 14,000 lives.
Also on rt.com Olympic chiefs set 4-week deadline to decide on fate of coronavirus-threatened Tokyo 2020 GamesThink your friends would be interested? Share this story!
Source : RT - Daily news
Canada will NOT send athletes to Tokyo 2020 as Japan admits postponing Olympics over Covid-19 'may become an option'
Canada will NOT send athletes to Tokyo 2020 as Japan admits postponing Olympics over Covid-19 'may become an option'
