Athletes aren't superheroes, postpone the Games now - Global Athlete

Record ID: 1465322

  • Title: Athletes aren't superheroes, postpone the Games now - Global Athlete
  • Date: 22nd March 2020
  • Summary: LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND (MARCH 3, 2020) (REUTERS) IOC PRESIDENT THOMAS BACH ARRIVING, AND SAYING "WE ARE ALL HEALTHY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MEETING" LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND (MARCH 17, 2020) (REUTERS) OLYMPIC RINGS OUTSIDE OLYMPIC HOUSE - IOC HEADQUARTERS SIGN OVER DOOR VARIOUS OF RINGS IN FRONT OF BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 5th April 2020 19:49
  • Keywords: Coronavirus Covid-19 IOC Tokyo 2020 Olympics
  • Location: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / FILE
  • City: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / FILE
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Olympics,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA002C64W75Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The International Olympic Committee needs to postpone the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics now according to the competitor-led movement Global Athlete.
    The organisation, fronted by former British cyclist Callum Skinner, believes the Games should be rescheduled until the Covid-19 pandemic is under control.
    Skinner, who won Olympic gold in Rio 2016, warned boycotts could follow if the IOC decides to go ahead with the Games in July, putting the health of athletes at risk.
    In an interview with Reuters on Sunday, Skinner said that athletes aren't superheroes and they are just as likely to contract the virus as anyone else could be.
    Later on Sunday (March 22), the International Olympic Committee said it is to step-up its "scenario planning" for the Tokyo 2020 Games -- including a possible postponement.
    The IOC will hold detailed discussions that will include an option of putting back the July 24 start date due to the global coronavirus pandemic, but said a complete cancellation of the Games would not solve any problems or help anybody.
    The Olympics has never been postponed or cancelled during peacetime.
    Under mounting pressure from athletes, federations and national Olympic committees to postpone the Games, the IOC did a partial U-turn on Sunday after long insisting, with Tokyo organisers, that the Games would go ahead as planned.
    More than 13,000 people have died globally since the coronavirus outbreak and its epicentre is now in Europe.
    Opposition to holding the Games in July has risen sharply in the past 48 hours, with several major stakeholders such as U.S. Track and Field and UK Athletics along with several national Olympic committees, calling for a delay because of the pandemic.
    They have raised several issues in the past week with the IOC, including athletes' inability to prepare due to restrictions caused by the virus and their overall safety.
    (Production: Tim Hart)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Olympic restriction: Clip cannot be re-published without additional clearances from the IOC.
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