{"id":423827,"date":"2020-03-23T06:17:48","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T13:17:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=423827"},"modified":"2024-10-28T12:02:50","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T19:02:50","slug":"athlete-body-says-ioc-delay-neglects-safety-urges-sponsors-tv-to-step-up-on-duty-of-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/athlete-body-says-ioc-delay-neglects-safety-urges-sponsors-tv-to-step-up-on-duty-of-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Athlete Body Says IOC Delay “Neglects Safety”; Urges Sponsors\/TV To Step Up On ‘Duty of Care’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The decision of Olympic and Paralympic Popes<\/strong> to delay a decision on the Tokyo 2020\u00a0Olympic\u00a0Games <\/strong>is\u00a0“unacceptable, irresponsible, and once again ignores the rights of athletes, says Global Athlete<\/strong>, a representative body for sportsmen and women.<\/p>\n

GA said that a move by the\u00a0International Olympic Committee (IOC)<\/strong>, backed by\u00a0the International Paralympic Committee (IPC),<\/strong>\u00a0to delay\u00a0postponement of the Games for a further four weeks “further neglects athlete and public safety”.<\/p>\n

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.<\/a><\/p>\n

GA also urged sponsors and broadcasters to accept their responsibilities and duties of care to athletes:<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Global Athlete said:<\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The athlete body repeated its call for a postponement of the Game until the pandemic is “under control”.<\/p>\n

In a statement on Sunday, Global Athlete noted:<\/p>\n

“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.<\/em><\/p>\n

“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.<\/em><\/p>\n

“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.<\/em><\/p>\n

“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.<\/em><\/p>\n

“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.<\/em><\/p>\n

“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.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Extraordinary Events In Swimming History:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The chronology of cancellation:<\/em><\/p>\n