USA Track and Field and the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) have joined many others in calling for the postponement of the Olympics in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, in a letter USATF chief executive, Max Siegel asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to postpone the Games as well.
He wrote:
“We certainly understand the ramifications of this request, and the realities of trying to coordinate the logistics of a postponed Olympic Games around the schedules of other athletes, sports federations, key stakeholders etc, but the alternative of moving forward in light of the current global situation would not be in the best interest of our athletes [as difficult as that decision might be,”
Brazil agrees and urged the IOC to follow in the footsteps of Uefa and Conmebol, the governing bodies of football in Europe and South America, in delaying the Olympics for 12 months. COB president Paulo Wanderley informed:
“As an ex-judoka and coach in the sport, I learned that every athlete’s dream is to go to the Olympics in top form,”
The Games are scheduled to run from July 24-August 9.
