{"id":423637,"date":"2020-03-22T10:33:12","date_gmt":"2020-03-22T17:33:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=423637"},"modified":"2020-03-22T10:35:44","modified_gmt":"2020-03-22T17:35:44","slug":"french-health-minister-i-dont-see-france-sending-athletes-to-tokyo-olympics-in-july","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/french-health-minister-i-dont-see-france-sending-athletes-to-tokyo-olympics-in-july\/","title":{"rendered":"French Health Minister: “I Don’t See France Sending Athletes To Tokyo Olympics” In July"},"content":{"rendered":"

French Health and Solidarity Minister Olivier V\u00e9ran<\/strong> has fired another shot among many travelling across the bows of an indecisive International Olympic Committee<\/strong> by stating that he does not see France sending any athletes to the Olympic Games in Tokyo this July given the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the RTL television program Grand Jury<\/em> today, V\u00e9ran said that he did not want French athletes to go to Tokyo to participate in the Olympic Games, due to start July 24 and last into August before the Paralympics<\/strong> begins several weeks later.<\/p>\n

He made clear that his opinion was not the binding position of France but V\u00e9ran’s view from the realm of the most important ministry in the French Government of President Emmanuel Macron<\/strong> carries weight.<\/p>\n

V\u00e9ran spoke on a day when Tokyo 2020 arrived at a cliff-edge of decision, the IOC and Japanese organisers yet to come to a view even though cancellation or postponement look like the only options left.<\/p>\n