Binatikos ni International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Hayley Wickenheiser ang desisyon na ituloy ang 2020 Tokyo Olympics sa gitna ng panganib na hatid ng Coronavirus o COVID-19 sa buong mundo.

Ayon sa report, sinabi diumano ni Wickenheiser na walang pakiramdam ang ireponsable ang plano na ituloy ang Olimpiyada gayung apektado na ang buong mundo sa nasabing virus.

Si Wickenheiser, na m i y e m b r o n g C a n a d a women’s ice hockey team at nagwagi ng apat na sunod na Olympic gold sa pagitan ng mga taong 2002 at 2016 ay nagpahayg ng kanyang damdamin sa pamamgitan ng kanyang social media account na Twitter.

“This crisis is bigger than even the Olympics. We don’t know what’s happening in the next 24 hours, let alone the next 3 months. I think the IOC insisting this will move ahead, with such conviction, is insensitive and irresponsible given the state of humanity,” ayon sa kanyang isinulat sa Twitter.

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Sinabi pa ni Wickenheiser na pati ang preparasyon ng mga atletang sasabak sa nasabing pinakamalaking quadrennial meet ay apektado na rin, gayung may ilang mga qualifying games ang kinansela dahil sa lockdown, sanhi ng panganib na dulot ng naturang virus. “ F r o m a n a t h l e t e perspective, I can only imagine and try to empathize with the anxiety and heartbreak athletes are feeling right now,” pahayag pa ni Wickenheiser.

“The uncertainty of not knowing where you’re going to train tomorrow as facilities close and qualification events are canceled all over the world would be terrible if you’ve been training your whole life for this.Athletes can’t train, attendees can’t travel plan. Sponsors and marketers can’t market with any degree of sensitivity,” ayon pa rin sa kanyang isinulat.