While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is postponing a decision, Canada has canceled its Olympic participation.
The pressure on the International Olympic Committee continues to increase. Canada today decided not to send athletes to Tokyo if the IOC adheres to the existing date. Canada is the first country to refrain from participating in the Olympic Games. The reason for this is the continued spread of the Covid-19 virus.
"We are in a global crisis and that is far more important than sport. We therefore urge the International Olympic Committee and the World Health Organization to postpone the 2020 Summer Olympics by one year. We will fully support the IOC as well as the WHO in mastering the challenges posed by a shift. "
The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committee
International Olympic Committee wants to wait
Canada's appeal and waiver followed a statement by the International Olympic Committee last Sunday. The IOC communicated that it had set a four-week deadline. Until then, a decision should be made as to whether and when the summer games can take place.
Statement by the International Olympic Committee on Sunday, March 22, 2020.
Canada's cancellation for the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, March 22, 2020.
UPDATE: Swiss Olympics requests postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympics
The Swiss Olympic Executive Council decided on Monday afternoon in a conference call to apply to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to postpone the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (July 24th to August 9th).
«The athletes suffer from difficult training conditions. In addition, the first countries have now canceled their Olympic participation. Under these conditions, we do not believe that a fair, global Olympic Games in the sense of the Olympic movement are possible. That is why we applied to the IOC for a postponement »
Swiss Olympic President Jürg Stahl
Swiss Olympic had already informed the IOC at the weekend that the Olympic Games in Tokyo should only take place if the corona crisis is under control worldwide.
Swiss Olympic is aware of how difficult it is for the IOC to make a decision regarding the postponement of the Olympic Games and how many points and interest groups the IOC has to take into account.
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Credits: Cover picture Canadian Olympic Committee