The World Athletics on Monday welcomed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to hold discussion over the possible postponement of the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“World Athletics welcomes discussions with the IOC to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and wrote to the IOC earlier today to relay this feedback from its Area Presidents, Council, and athletes. We stand ready to work with the IOC and all sport on an alternative date,” World Athletics said in a statement.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will also show compliance with the decision the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as per the association’s President Narinder Batra.
“We will follow what IOC is saying and we will go by IOC’s stand. Whatever will be IOC’s decision, we will follow strictly. We are also in touch with the government, we are talking to everyone and our stand is what IOC’s stand is. I am a member of IOC and I do not follow what Canada and Australia is saying, that’s their issue. IOC is a responsible organisation, we know that,” Batra told ANI.
Batra’s statement comes after the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) announced that they will not send their teams to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer of 2020 due to coronavirus threat.
ALSO READ: Former Man Utd player Fellaini tests positive for Coronavirus in China
Earlier, the IOC said they will make a decision in four weeks time as several countries around the world are reeling under coronavirus outbreak. However, the body emphasised that ‘cancellation is not on the agenda’.
“The IOC will, in full coordination and partnership with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Japanese authorities and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, start detailed discussions to complete its assessment of the rapid development of the worldwide health situation and its impact on the Olympic Games, including the scenario of postponement,” IOC said in a statement.
“The IOC is confident that it will have finalised these discussions within the next four weeks, and greatly appreciates the solidarity and partnership of the NOCs and IFs in supporting the athletes and adapting Games planning. The IOC EB emphasised that a cancellation of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would not solve any of the problems or help anybody. Therefore, cancellation is not on the agenda,” the statement added.
The Tokyo Olympic Games are scheduled to be held from July 24 to August 9, while the Paralympic Games are scheduled to be held from August 25 to September 6
(With ANI inputs)