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More calls for this summer's Toyko Olympics to be postponed

There have been more calls today for this summer's Tokyo Olympics to be postponed because of the ...
Will O'Callaghan
Will O'Callaghan

15.40 21 Mar 2020


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More calls for this summer's T...

More calls for this summer's Toyko Olympics to be postponed

Will O'Callaghan
Will O'Callaghan

15.40 21 Mar 2020


Share this article


There have been more calls today for this summer's Tokyo Olympics to be postponed because of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic. 

America's athletics governing body USA Track and Field wants the Tokyo Games, which are due to start in late July, to be put back.

USA Track and Field chief executive Max Siegel has penned a letter to the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee asking them to request the change:

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"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, sport 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)."

The Brazilian, Slovenian and Norwegian Olympic Committees are also supporting the idea of moving the event to next year.

Yesterday, Sport Ireland chief John Treacy said the "least worst" option would be staging the Games in the Autumn.

So far the International Olympic Committee have maintained their stance is that the Olympics will go ahead in Tokyo as planned and President Thomas Bach said yesterday that a cancellation is not being considered.


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