Canada pulls out of 2020 Games as pressure mounts on Tokyo by SNkeats LeikaKihara Tokyo2020
TORONTO/TOKYO - The Canadian Olympic Committee and Paralympic Committee said on Sunday that Team Canada will not participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer of 2020 due to concerns about the outbreak of the coronavirus.
“While we recognize the inherent complexities around a postponement, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community,” it added. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe responded to the IOC’s statement by telling parliament on Monday that postponing the Olympics may become an option if holding the Games in its “complete form” became impossible.
While Canada is the first country to say it will not send a delegation to compete in the summer of 2020, the Australian Olympic Committee said on Monday its athletes should prepare for a Tokyo Games taking place in 2021. “We also applaud the IOC for acknowledging that safeguarding the health and wellness of nations and containing the virus must be our paramount concern.Canada’s boycott will add to growing pressure on the IOC to alter the schedule after criticism from a slew of current and former athletes with health concerns.
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