TORONTO/TOKYO — Canada and Australia said they would not be sending athletes to the Tokyo Olympics if the Games went ahead as scheduled this year as pressure on organisers to postpone because of the coronavirus pandemic reached fever pitch on Monday.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japanese government had on Sunday and Monday slightly shifted their position that the Games would start as planned on July 24, announcing a month-long consultation over other “scenarios”.
That was not sufficient for the Canadians or Australians, who said they would not be participating if the Games were not pushed back to 2021.
Canada’s Olympic Committee (COC) and Paralympic Committee (CPC) released a statement saying that while they recognised the complexities of a postponement, “nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community”.
Martin Richard, communications chief for the CPC, said the Canadians had been hoping for a decision on Sunday and decided to withdraw when none came.
“The world is facing a crisis and this is more important than any other sport event,” he told Reuters from Ottawa.
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