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In a letter published on their Twitter account @usatf, United States Track and Field (USATF) member Max Siegel wrote that the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee should postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
“Moving forward in light of the current global situation would not be in the best interest of our athletes,” he wrote.
This letter follows a similar one by USA Swimming and Norwegian Olympic Committee’s open letters to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach.
“As we have learned, our athletes are under tremendous stress, pressure and anxiety, and their mental health and wellness is among our highest priorities.”
Various other athletes and Hayley Wickenheiser, an IOC board member have also voiced the same concerns.
Apparently over 300,000 people worldwide have tested positive for the coronavirus or COVID-19. Meanwhile, at least 12,944 have died according to John Hopkins University.
In contrast, Tokyo organizers and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Paris organizing committee President Tony Estanguet say that it is too early to make a decision on postponing the Games.
Experts agree that a decision will need to be made by the end of March.
— USATF (@usatf) March 21, 2020
