Federations say Olympics must be postponed

Los Angeles, March 21: USA Swimming has urged the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee to back the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Games amid the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter to US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) chief executive Sarah Hirshland, posted on USA Swimming’s Twitter feed on Friday, swimming federation chief executive Tim Hinchey “respectfully requested” that the USOPC “advocate for the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 by one year,” to 2021.

USA Swimming made the letter public after the US Olympic chiefs said in a conference call on Friday that more time was needed to determine the fate of the Tokyo Games.

Meanwhile, France’s swimming federation also joined its US counterpart in calling for the Tokyo Olympics to be postponed because of coronavirus, adding pressure on IOC.

The U.S. track federation added its name to a growing chorus of calls to postpone the Tokyo Games because of the coronavirus.

In a letter to the CEO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, USA Track and Field CEO Max Siegel urged the federation to advocate for the postponement of the Games.

OLYMPICS CAN WAIT,

SAYS NORWAY

The Norwegian Olympic Committee wants the Tokyo Games only to take place once the coronavirus outbreak “is under firm control” worldwide.

The NIF laid out its position in a letter sent to IOC President Thomas Bach, entitled “Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Covid-19” and signed by its president and secretary general.The body said it urged the IOC to provide an “insight on the central milestones” in the process leading to the final decision. “Our clear recommendation,” the letter read, “is that the Olympic Games shall not take place before the Covid-19 situation is under firm control on a global scale.”

— Agencies.