© Copyright – 2020 – Athletics Illustrated
Lord Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics says that a decision to cancel the 2020 Tokyo Olympics does not have to be made yet. Likewise, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was not yet ready to make a decision either.
Abe told G-7 leaders that he had not yet decided whether to postpone the Games because of COVID-19.
Although the discussion will ramp up considerably in the coming days and week. The consensus is, that it will come to a postponement.
Coe said during an interview on BBC radio, “Let’s not make a precipitous decision when we don’t have to four months out.”
The global sports calendar has been decimated this spring and summer due to the pandemic. Regional and world championships have been cancelled or postponed, professional leagues have been shut down and training centres in many cities are closed.
For athletes to get ready for the Games will be difficult.
Hence, the International Olympic Committee has received criticism from athletes and former athletes including IOC member Hayley Wickenheiser.
“This crisis is bigger than even the Olympics,” said Wickenheiser.
“We don’t know what’s happening in the next 24 hours, let alone for the next three months.”
