TOKYO/GENEVA: Defying growing criticism, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach on Saturday (March 21) defended pressing on with plans to stage this summer's Tokyo Olympics despite the coronavirus outbreak, for the athletes' sake.
"A cancellation would destroy the Olympic dream of 11,000 athletes from 206 national Olympic committees and the IOC refugee team. Such a cancellation would be the least fair solution," Bach told German SWR radio.
The athletics chiefs from Britain, Nic Coward, and Germany, Juergen Kessing, were among the latest to urge a postponement. On Friday, Olympic Committees from Norway and Slovenia, as well as the US swimming federation had also urged the Games to be postponed for health reasons and because many athletes can't train because of government restrictions.
Hinchey named a postponement"a solution that provides a concrete path forward and allows all athletes to prepare for a safe and successful Olympic Games in 2021." WADA president Witold Banka pledged they would be"providing leadership and support so that the health of all concerned can be protected and the integrity of the world anti-doping system can be maintained as much as possible.
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