Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the country calls for a postponement.
The continuous spread of the coronavirus has put many industries on hold. Sports, not withstanding. Due to the virus, the NHL, NBA, and MLB have had to indefinitely suspend their seasons until the situation alleviates. Unfortunately, there is no clear idea as to when that will happen. [Featured image: @teamcanada]
More than a performance, a record, or a medal.
It’s about being part of something bigger. #TeamCanada pic.twitter.com/93vvTRzDfE
— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) March 23, 2020
Despite this, all systems are still a-go for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics slated for July 24 — not for Canada, though.
In order to defend the health of its athletes and staff, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) will not send athletes to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Amidst the viral outbreak, the COC and CPC are calling for a one-year postponement.
“While we recognize the inherent complexities around a postponement, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community,” the organizations stated in a press release.
#TeamCanada will not send athletes to Games in summer 2020 due to COVID-19 risks.
🔗https://t.co/AKmI2rbyeO pic.twitter.com/8McEbgirVp
— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) March 23, 2020
Multiple affiliated Canadian organizations have backed the initiative, including the Athletes’ Commissions, National Sport Organizations, and the Government of Canada.
Accordingly, the organizations maintain that the initiative isn’t limited to the health of the athletes, but to the safety of the public:
“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. In fact, it runs counter to the public health advice,” they stated.
The difficult decision was made in reaction to a news release from the International Olympic Committee. The IOC announced that it would be ramping up systems to protect the health of athletes, and would consider postponement, but ultimately stated that it would not be cancelling the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.
Health and safety paramount as IOC Executive Board agrees to step up scenario-planning for the Olympic Games #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/jvLYoW9yfG
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) March 22, 2020
“The IOC EB emphasised that a cancellation of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would not solve any of the problems or help anybody. Therefore, cancellation is not on the agenda,” read a statement from the IOC’s Executive Board.
That being said, the IOC announced that it would make its final decision on the matter within four weeks.
Regardless, Team Canada is out and will not send its athletes to the Games’ slated start date in July.
“We are in the midst of a global health crisis that is far more significant than sport… We remain hopeful that the IOC and IPC will agree with the decision to postpone the Games as a part of our collective responsibility to protect our communities and work to contain the spread of the virus,” the organizations said.
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