{"id":423124,"date":"2020-03-18T14:36:25","date_gmt":"2020-03-18T21:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=423124"},"modified":"2020-03-18T15:37:21","modified_gmt":"2020-03-18T22:37:21","slug":"ioc-president-bach-still-four-months-to-go-but-we-will-act-in-the-interests-of-the-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/ioc-president-bach-still-four-months-to-go-but-we-will-act-in-the-interests-of-the-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"IOC President Bach: Still Four Months To Go But We Will Act In The Interests Of The Athletes"},"content":{"rendered":"

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach<\/strong> is still optimistic Tokyo 2020 can go ahead as \u201cwe still have more than four months to go\u201d but says the health and interests of athletes are paramount.<\/p>\n

Bach was speaking after a teleconference call with 220 athlete representatives where he was \u201cconfronted with many questions\u201d as criticism mounts and calls grow for Tokyo 2020 to be postponed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Olympics are increasingly under threat due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic although the IOC have insisted the Games will go ahead from 24 July as planned despite concerns as the death toll rises across the world.<\/p>\n

Sports events worldwide, including many Olympic swimming trials, have been cancelled or postponed and some athletes have voiced their criticism, saying lives are being put in danger.<\/p>\n

IOC member\u00a0<\/span>Hayley Wickenheiser<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0has described the governing body\u2019s assertion that the Games will take place in July as \u201cinsensitive and irresponsible\u201d, while head off the French swimming federation (FFN) Gilles Sezionale<\/strong> described the position of the IOC and Tokyo 2020 as “indecent” and “shocking”.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

$\"Swimming$ <\/p>\n

Bach moved to address the athletes and following the conference call, he said: <\/span><\/p>\n

“We have just had a really great call with 220 athlete representatives from all around the world so we were confronted with many questions concerning the qualification system and the restrictions being in place now.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cBut we were also very constructive in a way that was in consideration of \u2018the way to Tokyo\u2019 and that everybody realised that we still have more than four months to go.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we will address this action, we will keep acting in a responsible way in the interest of the athletes.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
He added in an in-house IOC interview:<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cIt was very constructive and gave us a lot of insight.<\/span><\/p>\n
“We aimed to continue being very realistic in our analysis. <\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cWe will keep acting in a responsible way that is in the interest of the athletes whilst always respecting our two principles – the safeguarding and health of the athletes and contributing to the containment of the virus, and secondly to protect the interest of the athletes and Olympic sport.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
$\"Tokyo2020Aquatics-Centre\"$
The venue – an artist’s impression – Photo Courtesy: Tokyo2020<\/p><\/div>\n
Kirsty Coventry, the chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, said that \u201cathletes did want to see the Games happening in July\u201d.<\/p>\n
Coventry, who won two golds among seven Olympic medals in 2004 and 2008, posted on social media, saying:<\/p>\n
“We just wrapped up a two-hour call with over 220 athlete representatives from around the world.<\/p>\n
“We just want to say thank you to all those athlete representatives for sharing with us the concerns you have and the concerns athletes have around the world.<\/p>\n
“We want to thank the IOC president (Thomas Bach) and all the IOC experts for being on that call with us to answer your questions and we hope that you have some clarity.<\/p>\n
“The main concerns that athletes are facing and want more information around is the qualification process and we promise to get that to you as clear as possible.<\/p>\n
“We’re working with international federations daily.<\/p>\n
“They had concerns around their own health and the health of their families and we just implore you to keep doing what you are doing.<\/p>\n
“We heard that athletes did want to see the Games happening in July and that’s really promising but we know that the landscape is ever-changing and again we promise to keep you updated.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Very constructive call with 220 athlete reps from around the world. Discussing the corona virus and how it\u2019s impacting athletes. Here are a few key takeaways. #unite<\/a> #Tokyo2020<\/a> #coronavirus<\/a> @Olympics<\/a> @Athlete365<\/a> @Tokyo2020<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/84j0YBkggR<\/a><\/p>\n
— Kirsty Coventry (@KirstyCoventry) March 18, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n