x

Canada withdraws from 2020 Games as Japan, IOC consider postponement

Canada became the first country to boycott the Tokyo Games due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Australia also told its athletes to prepare for an Olympics next year as Japan and the IOC flagged the prospect of a postponement for the first time.

Opposition to holding the Games in July rose sharply over the weekend with major stakeholders such as U.S. Track and Field and UK Athletics, along with some national Olympic committees, calling for a delay because of the pandemic.

Canada’s Olympic and Paralympics Committees raised the ante considerably, however, when they said they would not be sending athletes to Tokyo if the Games went ahead as scheduled.

Under mounting pressure to postpone the Games, the IOC and Japanese government had on Sunday and Monday had only partially shifted their position that the Games would go ahead as planned.

Martin Richard, communications chief for the Canadian Paralympics Committee, said the Canadians had been watching for a decision from the IOC on Sunday about postponing the Games and decided to withdraw when none came.

“The world is facing a crisis and this is more important than any other sport event,” Richard told Reuters from Ottawa.

“We decided that was the right thing to do.”

Richard said for Paralympics athletes, some of whom had underlying conditions, it would be risky to expose them if the virus was not contained.

“We felt it was unethical to have them be put in that position,” he said, adding that Canada had not been alone in applying pressure on the IOC to postpone.

More than 14,600 people have died globally since the coronavirus outbreak began.

On Sunday, the IOC said it would hold discussions over the next four weeks that would include an option of putting back the July 24 start date or even moving the Games by a year or more.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament on Monday postponing the Olympics may become an option if holding the Games in its “complete form” became impossible.

“If that becomes difficult, we may have no option but to consider postponing the Games, given the Olympic principle of putting the health of athletes first,” he said.

Abe also said calling off the Games entirely was not an option, echoing the IOC position in its statement that cancellation “was not on the agenda”.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics Chief Yoshiro Mori later said organisers would consider postponement as one of many scenarios they aim to have ready in the next four weeks.

There were no plans to change the start of the Olympic torch relay on March 26, organisers said. (Reuters/NAN)

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalist As...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

Gov Eno commissions FG funded 100-bed Specialist Hospital

By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom yesterday...

Police launch investigationinto murder of A’Ibom man in church , arrest rapists

By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo The Police in Alwa Ibom has launched...

Davido, Chioma Arrive in Miami Ahead of Lavish White Wedding

Afrobeats sensation David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and...

El-Rufai Still a Key Stakeholder in APC – Party Chieftain Affirms

A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC)...

IWD: Time-Saving Tips Every Busy Mom Needs

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the strength, resilience,...

“My Husband Is Threatening My Life” – Actress Evan Okoro Cries Out

Award-winning Nollywood actress, Evan Okoro, has publicly cried out...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img