More and more sports organizations are asking the International Olympic Committee to postpone the Olympic Games in Tokyo due to the coronavirus pandemic, although the IOC is currently refusing to say even what everyone can see - that the competition is in question.
The word has now arrived from the United States - they have something to say from the national athletics and swimming federations as well.
- We are aware of the weight of this request and how difficult it is logistically to coordinate the postponement of the Olympic Games considering the schedules of numerous sports federations, athletes, sponsors and others. However, the planned date after everything that is happening due to the current global situation would not be in the best interest of the athletes - it is stated in the statement signed by the president of the USA Athletic Association, Max Siegel.
American swimmers think the same way...
"We have seen how the lives of our athletes have turned, and that is why it is the right and responsible thing to put health first and properly recognize the damage that the pandemic has done to the athletes' preparations," the statement of the Swimming Association states.
OLYMPIC FLAME - LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
So far, the German Athletics Federation, and the Olympic Committees of Brazil and Norway have spoken in favor of postponing the Olympics, but the International Olympic Committee is not giving in. Recently, the president of the IOC, Thomas Bach, announced that the organization does not plan to cancel the competition, which is scheduled to start on July 24.
- Cancellation is not a topic at all. Of course, we are looking at different scenarios, but we are different from many other sports organizations and professional leagues because we have four and a half months until the Games start. What makes this crisis special and difficult to solve is uncertainty. Today, no one can tell you what will happen tomorrow, in 20 days, and at least in four months - says Bah.
Japan, as predicted, should be visited by around 600 people from abroad during the Games, including athletes. And of course the financial aspect is also important - the preparations for the Olympics cost at least 12 billion dollars, and the sponsors are ready to spend billions during the Games.
- Whatever the decision is, financial interests will not rule. Protecting the health of each participant and limiting the virus are the main goals. We are all worried, we do not hide it. And we want that, no matter how long this tunnel is, the Olympic flame will be the light at the end of that tunnel - said Bach.
WADA: WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TESTING
And the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that its controllers must continue to test athletes regardless of the coronavirus pandemic. The WADA guidelines state that adequate protection for athletes and controllers must be ensured, as well as "the integrity of test programs, especially as the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo are approaching." It was especially emphasized that people taking samples from athletes must not have any symptoms of Covid-19...
"In countries where testing is no longer possible, national organizations and federations must cooperate with WADA when the situation returns to normal. Regardless of the pandemic, athletes must know how they can be controlled anytime and anywhere," WADA points out.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
