The drumbeat for postponing the Tokyo Games continued as leaders from USA Track & Field have joined the growing chorus by calling on Olympic officials to not push forward this summer in the wake of the spreading coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter emailed to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) on Friday, track’s chief executive Max Spiegel insisted trying to hold the Summer Olympics in four months is not in the best interest of the athletes.
“We acknowledge that there are no perfect answers, and that this is a very complex and difficult decision,” Siegel wrote in the letter. “But this position at least provides our athletes with the comfort of knowing that they will have adequate time to properly prepare themselves physically, mentally and emotionally to be able to participate in a safe and successful Olympic Games, and that they can shift their focus toward taking care of themselves and their families.
“We urge the USOPC, as a leader within the Olympic Movement, to use its voice and speak up for the athletes.”
The letter followed a similar call for postponement by leaders of USA Swimming. They are asking the Summer Olympics be postponed until 2021 when the health crisis presumably will be under control.
“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 … but the alternative of moving forward in light of the current global situation would not be in the best interest of our athletes,” Siegel wrote in a letter the governing body posted Saturday on Twitter.
President Donald Trump said Saturday during a White House briefing that he told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe it was his decision to make on the Olympics.
“I know he is going to make it soon,” Trump said. “I don’t know what it is going to be. I didn’t think I should be influencing it all. They are options, including delay.”
Trump added that he understood the difficulty for organizers to move the Tokyo Games.
“They have built one of the most beautiful venues I have ever seen,” Trump said. “They’re ready to go. It’s not late, it’s not over budget. It’s done flawlessly.”
USA Swimming had asked USOPC executive Sarah Hirshland to use the American influence to get the International Olympic Committee to consider pushing the Summer Games to 2021.
“Everyone has experienced unimaginable disruptions, mere months before the Olympic Games, which calls into question the authenticity of a level playing field for all,” USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey said in his letter. “Our athletes are under tremendous pressure, stress and anxiety, and their mental health and wellness should be among the highest priorities.”
Athletes such as Stanford graduate Katerina Stefanidi criticized IOC leaders in the past week for showing no signs of considering an alternative to the scheduled Games, July 24-Aug. 9 in Tokyo. Stefanidi is the reigning Olympic pole vault champion from Greece.
LoLo Jones, an Olympic hurdler and bobsledder, tweeted Saturday that athletes were concerned for their health and their families.
“Telling athletes to carry on as normal amidst this public health crisis is irresponsible and demeaning,” she wrote. “Many cannot “continue to prepare for the Olympic Games” in any capacity. This international emergency is unprecedented, and the IOC must acknowledge that sport takes a backseat to public health.”
More than 287,000 people worldwide have been infected by COVID-19 and almost 12,000 have died, according to the Los Angeles Times virus tracker. In the U.S., there are over 19,600 confirmed cases and at least 260 deaths.
Swimming, track and gymnastics are considered the big three Olympic sports in America.
USA Gymnastics sent a survey to its athletes asking for input about whether the Olympics should be held. President and chief executive Li Li Leung said the responses will dictate USA Gymnastics’ message to the USOPC.
“We have been carefully considering this global health crisis, the impact that it could have on the Olympic Games, and on our athletes who have trained so hard to make it there,” Leung said in a statement. “We know and respect that they may have different views on how best to advocate for their interests, which is why we asked our Olympic hopefuls to share their thoughts about the possibility of a postponement with us through an anonymous survey. We want to ensure that their voice comes through in our advocacy, and particularly on this important topic.”
