Following Canada's recent announcement with regards to their decision not to send delegates to the upcoming Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Australia is now the next nation that has opted to followed suit.
This does not come as a surprise given the current coronavirus global pandemic that has become a serious health threat to every single person in the entire world. According to the Australian Olympics committee, they are merely looking out for the safety and well-being of their athletes.
“Our athletes now need to prioritise their own health and of those around them, and to be able to return to the families.”
“It's clear the Games can't be held in July,” said Ian Chesterman, Australian Team Chef de Mission for Tokyo, via Amir Vera and Jill Martin of CNN. “Our athletes have been magnificent in their positive attitude to training and preparing, but the stress and uncertainty has been extremely challenging for them.”
While the Olympics is still four months away, it's anybody's guess what the situation will be by then. We're all hoping that the spread of the virus may have been significantly appeased at that point, but right now, nothing is certain.
Matt Carroll, the CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee also chimed in, saying that while their athletes are very much looking forward to participating in the prestigious international sports spectacle, they also completely understand the current predicament.
“The athletes desperately want to go to the games…but they also take onboard their own personal health,” Carroll told reporters in Sydney on Monday. “We need to give our athletes that certainty and that's what we've done.”
With all the recent developments, it would not be surprising if the Olympics gets rescheduled. Other major international sporting events have already done so, so perhaps it would be in everyone's best interest if the Olympics is likewise cancelled/delayed.
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