From Wall Street to the streets of Tokyo, this insidious virus COVID-19 touches on every aspect of our lives and has affected every single one of us in this World in one way or another. From healthcare to small and large businesses, to colleges, schools, gyms, salons, bars, and restaurants, to sporting events, this virus does not discriminate. It has taken away our livelihood and left us under lock and key and isolation.
With the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics just around the corner only four months away, there have been closed door meetings among the various nations’ Olympic Committees regarding the decision of whether to postpone the Games to 2021.
The International Olympic Committee announced yesterday that it will make a decision whether to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Games at some point in the next four weeks. So far the US Olympic Committee has indicated that it has no plans to ask that the Games be postponed. It is a wait and see at this point. We do not know whether the virus will subside within the next few weeks or months or whether it will continue to spread.
The Canadian Olympic Committee just issued a statement advising it would not send athletes to the Tokyo Games this summer and called for them to be postponed for one year. Canada is the first country so far to make this threat to boycott the Games in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Imagine the devastation for all the World’s athletes who have trained so hard and have dedicated their lives working towards this goal of making an Olympic team. The Olympics itself is certainly not conducive to practicing social distancing. Athletes train together, compete together, share equipment and live together in the Olympic Village. Athletes converge from every Nation.
In addition to the real threat of contracting this virus and the current practice of social distancing, athletes for the most part are on lockdown and their training has been curtailed. For example the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships were cancelled. This is a key event leading up to Olympic Trials.
With the Olympics starting in July, athletes have not been able to train properly for the upcoming Olympic trials. Some are quarantined and others do not have full access to their coaches, trainers, therapists or training facilities. Athletes train in cycles in order to peak at certain times and this disruption in their livelihood is heartbreaking. Take a look at gymnastics for example. Women gymnasts have a relatively short career when compared to some other sports. A female gymnast may be 16 years old for the 2020 Olympics but will be 20 years old for the next Olympics should the Games be cancelled all together until 2024. That athlete may not be able to sustain the body composition required for this particular sport and may not be able to continue the rigorous training schedule for another four years.
With the Olympics starting in July, athletes have not been able to train properly for the upcoming Olympic trials. Some are quarantined and others do not have full access to their coaches, trainers, therapists or training facilities. Athletes train in cycles in order to peak at certain times and this disruption in their livelihood is heartbreaking. Take a look at gymnastics for example. Women gymnasts have a relatively short career when compared to some other sports. A female gymnast may be 16 years old for the 2020 Olympics but will be 20 years old for the next Olympics should the Games be cancelled all together until 2024. That athlete may not be able to sustain the body composition required for this particular sport and may not be able to continue the rigorous training schedule for another four years.
Bottom line is if the Games have to absolutely be postponed, then one year to me is a reasonable alternative.
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