LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Tuloy o kanselaso ang Tokyo Olympics?
May apat na linggong hininge ang International Olympic Committee (IOC) upang pag-usapan nang masinsinan ang kahat ng aspeto bago pormal na magpahayag ng desisyon, sakabila ng samut-saring kritisismo hingil sa liderato para maproteksyunan ang mga atleta sa lumalalang coronavirus (COVID-19).
Nakatakdang makipagpulong ang IOC sa Japanese public authorities, global sports officials, broadcasters and sponsors upang mailatag ang programa sa Olympics na nakatakda sa July 24.
Ngunit, angh kanselasyon ay tila wala pa sa plano ng IOC.
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Ayon kay IOC President Thomas Bach, sa sulat na ipinadala sa mga atleta, matatagalan ang kanilang pagdedesisyon at inaasahang nilang aani ito ng kristisismo.
“I know that this unprecedented situation leaves many of your questions open,” aniya. “I also know that this rational approach may not be in line with the emotions many of you have to go through.”
Sa kanyang sulat kay Bach, iginiit naman ni World Athletics President Seb Coe na an gang pagsasagawa ng Olympics sa July “is neither feasible nor desirable.”
“No one wants to see the Olympic Games postponed but ... we cannot hold the event at all costs, certainly not at the cost of athlete safety,” aniya. “A decision on the Olympic Games may become very obvious very quickly.”
Iginiit ni Bach na handa ang organizers na maituloy ang Olympics sa July 24, sa kabila nang pagkabalam sa training ng mga atleta, gayundin ang kanselasyon ng qualifying rvrnts dulot ng COVID-19.
Ilang National Olympic Committees tulad ng Brazil at Slovenia ang humiling na ituloy ang Olympics sa 2021. Iginiit naman ng Norway’s Olympic body na hindi sila magpapadala ng atleta sa Tokyo hangga’t hindi pa masisiguro na napuksa na ang virus.
Hiniling naman ng Uted States governing bodies ng swimming at track — dalawang pinakamalaking event sa Olympics – sa kanilang National Olympic officials na kanselashain ang quadrennial Games.
“There is a dramatic increase in cases and new outbreaks of COVID- 19 in different countries on different continents,” sambit ng IOC. “This led the (board) to the conclusion that the IOC needs to take the next step in its scenario-planning.”
“A decision about a postponement today could not determine a new date for the Olympic Games because of the uncertain developments in both directions: an improvement, as we are seeing in a number of countries thanks to the severe measures being taken, or a deteriorating situation in other countries,” sambit ni Bach.
