The decision of Olympic and Paralympic Popes to delay a decision on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is “unacceptable, irresponsible, and once again ignores the rights of athletes, says Global Athlete, a representative body for sportsmen and women.
GA said that a move by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), backed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), to delay postponement of the Games for a further four weeks “further neglects athlete and public safety”.
The updated statement follows hot on the heels of another that said Global Athlete had heard from hundreds of athletes supporting a postponement of the Games on an extraordinary 48 hours in Olympic history that ended on a. Monday Down Under with Swimming Australia shutting its high-performance programs in order to comply with coronavirus containment orders from the Government.
GA also urged sponsors and broadcasters to accept their responsibilities and duties of care to athletes:
“Finally, we call on broadcasters (NBC) and sponsors to adopt the same level of duty of care towards athletes by supporting the IOC and the IPC with flexibility and understanding during these uncharted times.”
The IOC made its statement on a four-week delay on a day when Canada became the first to announce that it would not be sending a team to Tokyo 2020 in July, Australia made moves that amounted to the same thing and leading figures in France and Italy indicated that they “could not imagine” sending athletes to the Games this summer as the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to take lives, shape lives and livelihoods and send economies down the drain.
Global Athlete said:
As the world continues to fight this global pandemic, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) have told athletes of the world they need four weeks to make a decision on whether or not they postpone the Games. Such a response is unacceptable, irresponsible, and once again ignores the rights of athletes.
Over the next four weeks the world is going to increasingly shut down, the Covid-19 virus will sadly take more lives, and without a clear answer, athletes are still being indirectly asked to train. If anyone knows how competitive athletes work, they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. We understand it is a difficult decision, but the IOC and IPC have a duty of care towards athletes which they have not exercised. A clear message should have been sent to all athletes to stop training and observe government mandates to self-isolate. Sport should never be prioritized ahead of public health.
The athlete body repeated its call for a postponement of the Game until the pandemic is “under control”.
In a statement on Sunday, Global Athlete noted:
“We have heard from hundreds of athletes and today we are calling on both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to place athlete safety and welfare first by postponing the Games until the Covid-19 global pandemic is under control.
“As the world unites to limit the spread of Covid-19 virus the IOC and IPC must do the same. To date both organizations have told athletes to continue to train and prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Games. Athletes want to be part of a solution to ensure the Games are a success but under the current global restrictions that are limiting public gatherings as well as closing training facilities and borders, athletes do not have the ability to appropriately prepare for these Games and their health and safety must come first.
“Sport has a duty of care to protect their athletes. Public health must be a priority over sporting events. By asking them to carry on as normal and continue to train for these Games clearly puts their physical and mental health at risk.
“Athletes want to fulfil their dreams of competing at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We understand the challenges and costs of delaying the Games and that such a decision is a difficult one.
“We all recognize the Games provided a unique ability to bring together countries and unite a divided world. That is why waiting is so important. With meaningful collective athlete engagement, a future Games could act as a celebration showcasing that we all did our part in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Finally, we call on broadcasters (NBC) and sponsors to adopt the same level of duty of care towards athletes by supporting the IOC and the IPC with flexibility and understanding during these uncharted times.”
Extraordinary Events In Swimming History:
The chronology of cancellation:
- Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Over: Swimming Australia Shuts High Performance Programs
- Canada Will Not Send Athletes to Summer 2020 Olympics, Steps up Postponement Pressure
- Games Over For Tokyo 2020: Australian Travel Ban ‘May Last 6 Months’; 70% Back Tokyo 2021 In USA Poll
- Cameron van der Burgh Goes Viral On His Coronavirus COVID-19 Struggle
- Olympic Popes Raise ‘Postponement’ For First Time To Turn Tokyo 2020 Black Smoke To Grey
- US Athletes Voice Their Support Over Olympic Postponement
- French Health Minister: “I Don’t See France Sending Athletes To Tokyo Olympics” In July
- Michael Gross Issues Albatross Warning To Bach: Save Olympic Dreams With Tokyo 2021
- Mel Marshall: Safety Of The Athletes & The Nation Is Paramount In Global Tragedy
- Bravo! To The Tokyo 2021 Advocates As Swim Leaders Navigate A Big Bend In The River
- ISL Boss Grigorishin: Health & Safety Paramount +2020-21 Season To Respect Any Tokyo Change
- Swimming Canada ‘very much aligned’ with USA Swimming on Olympic postponement
- USOPC Responds to USA Swimming’s “Postpone the Games” Message
- USA Swimming Calls For Olympic Postponement In Face Of USOPC Indecision
- “Olympics At The Moment…Would Not Be Fair,” Declares Dolphins Coach Jacco Verhaeren
- European Aquatics Championships Postponed Until August As LEN & Buda Curse The Pest
- BOA Will Not ‘Endanger Health & Wellbeing Of Athletes’ For Sake Of July Olympics
- The Soak: Norway To IOC “Tokyo 2020 Neither Justifiable Nor Desirable Until Coronavirus Dead”
- Jacob Pebley to USA Swimming: “Only Moral Option” is Postponing Trials, Olympics
- International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Weekend Postponed Until Fall of 2020
- Bob Bowman, Frank Busch Back Postponement As 2021 Olympics Gains Ground
- USA Swimming Cancels All Events Through April 30
- French Swimming Boss & Pharmacist On The Frontline of Coronavirus War Denounces IOC & Tokyo 2020 Inaction As “Indecent & Shocking”
- Germany Postpones Olympic Swimming Trials & National Championships Until At Least End May In Coronavirus Lockdown
- A Season For Citius-Altius-Fortius Spirit From Olympic Bosses Not “Games On As Planned Or I’m Taking My Ball Home”
- 600 Chinese Olympic Athletes Training In Coronavirus Containment In Paris Up To Departure For Tokyo 2020, Claims IOC Member
- France Postpones Olympic Swimming Trials & Nationals Until June & All Other National Events Are Off
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo Hails Healthcare Heroes & Urges Fans To Fight Coronavirus With Strict Hygiene Protocol
- Dutch Olympic-Qualifier Swim Cups Cancelled In Coronavirus Lockdown
- The Soak – Swim Ireland Announces Postponement Of Olympic Trials Until End Of June
- Swimming Australia Cancels Australian Championships And Age Nationals to Combat Coronaavirus
- Spanish Swimming Nationals And Olympic Trials Latest In Wave Of Coronavirus Cancellations
- NCAA Cancels Winter Championships, Including Swimming And Diving
- USA Swimming Cancels All Events For 30 Days Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
- France Cancels Junior Nationals On Extraordinary Day In Swim History Ahead of Crunch Decision On Olympic Trials
- Scandinavian Swimming Shutdown: Danish Open, Olympic Trials, Swim Open Stockholm Off; Pools Shut & Norway Bans All Sport Events In Coronavirus Lockdown
- FINA Confirms Postponement of the Men’s Olympic Water Polo Qualifier in Rotterdam
- FINA Cancels/ Postpones Swathe Of Aquatic Events Due To Coronavirus Pandemic, Some Decisions Pending
- Italian Struggle To Find Swimming Pools To Train In Sparks #stopolympics Coronavirus Lockdown Campaign
- The Soak – WADA Warns Of Unintended Consequences As Rodchenkov Act On Whistleblowing Takes Step Closer To Becoming U.S. Law
- WHO Set To Give ‘Basic Thoughts’ On Olympics & Coronavirus As Unrepentant Tokyo 2020 Board Member Sounds “Warning Bell”
- COVID-19 Leads Argentina to Cancel South American Championships
- Ivy League To Cancel All Athletic Events Through Remainder Of Spring
- Coronavirus Causes China Olympic Swimming Trials Postponement
- Italy Cancels Olympic Swim Trials & Wave Of Other Aquatic Championships In Coronavirus Lockdown
Guidance on Water and Coronavirus
- Coronavirus And Swimmers: CDC Issues Guidance On Water Transmission & COVID-19
- 2008 Uni of Arizona Research Called For More Study Into Survival Of Coronavirus in Water [UPDATED March 11 – Link To CDC Guide]