{"id":460488,"date":"2021-01-25T09:10:59","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T16:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=460488"},"modified":"2021-01-25T09:10:59","modified_gmt":"2021-01-25T16:10:59","slug":"the-week-that-was-ioc-bosses-squash-olympic-cancellation-rumors-canada-great-britain-make-early-selections-for-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/the-week-that-was-ioc-bosses-squash-olympic-cancellation-rumors-canada-great-britain-make-early-selections-for-games\/","title":{"rendered":"The Week That Was: IOC Bosses Squash Olympic Cancellation Rumors, Canada & Great Britain Make Early Selections For Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Week That Was sponsored by Suitmate.<\/em><\/p>\n

Conflicting reports about the status of the upcoming Olympic Games surfaced last week, with\u00a0The Times\u00a0<\/em>reporting that Japan was privately conceding the Olympics and would be focusing on a bid at 2032. However, many senior members of the International Olympic Committee, and various members of national Olympic Committees, squashed these rumors and insisted the Games were still on.<\/p>\n

With the Games still on, Swimming Canada and British Swimming made early selections for their Olympic Teams.<\/p>\n

Read below the five biggest stories in The Week That Was sponsored by\u00a0Suitmate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Week That Was #1: Olympic Committee Heads Squash Olympic Cancellation Rumors<\/h3>\n

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By Andy Ross<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Conflicting reports have surfaced over the status of the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo scheduled for this summer, after they were delayed a full year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Times of London on Thursday produced a report<\/a>, citing a senior member of the Japan\u2019s ruling coalition that, \u201cThe Japanese government has privately concluded that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled because of the coronavirus.\u201d For stakeholders in Japan, the focus would shift to securing the next available Olympics, in 2032, as some compensation for the money spent on these Games.<\/p>\n

From the\u00a0The Times\u2019\u00a0<\/em>report:<\/p>\n

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The aim now is to find a face-saving way of announcing the cancellation that leaves open the possibility of Tokyo playing host at a later date. \u201cNo one wants to be the first to say so but the consensus is that it\u2019s too difficult,\u201d the un-named source said. \u201cPersonally, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to happen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Earlier on Jan. 21, IOC President\u00a0Thomas Bach\u00a0<\/strong>insisted\u00a0there is no \u201cPlan B\u201d<\/a>\u00a0with full confidence the Games will go forward as scheduled despite huge cost overruns because of the delay.<\/p>\n

The Australian and United States Olympic Committee have published statements that refute these reports, indicating that any cancellation would come from the International Olympic Committee.<\/p>\n

The USOPC wrote:<\/p>\n

\u201cAny official communication on the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 will come from the IOC, Tokyo Organizing Committee and the Japanese government.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have not received any information suggesting the Games will not happen as planned, and our focus remains on the health and preparedness of Team USA athletes ahead of the Games this summer.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Australian Olympic Committee chef de mission for the 2021 Games\u00a0Ian Chesterman<\/strong>\u00a0also insisted the report was nothing more than a rumor when speaking on radio Friday in Australia,\u00a0according to news.com.au<\/a>. The AOC released the statement below:<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth Japanese Prime Minister (Yoshihide<\/strong>)\u00a0Suga<\/strong>\u00a0and IOC President Bach have this week strongly reaffirmed their commitment to the Tokyo Olympic Games going ahead in July this year,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe AOC is continuing its planning to ensuring the Australian Olympic Team arrives in Tokyo, competes and returns home safe and COVID-free.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe AOC, Federal Government, Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council are continuing to progress the candidature for the Olympic Games to be held in Queensland in 2032\u00a0 \u2013 and that process continues.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

#2: Canada & Great Britain Make Early Selections For Tokyo<\/h3>\n
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Maggie MacNeil & Penny Oleksiak. Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant<\/p><\/div>\n

By Matthew De George<\/a> & Liz Byrnes<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Swimming Canada\u00a0on Friday postponed<\/a>\u00a0the Canadian Olympic Trials to late May over concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provisionally named six swimmers to the Olympic squad.<\/p>\n

The six are:<\/p>\n