#CoronavirusOutbreak: Athlete concerns grow ahead of Olympics, organizers respond
Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi claimed athletes were being forced to take health risks as competitors started to speak out about holding the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Stefanidi and British heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson went on to voice concerns after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it was "fully committed" to running the Games as scheduled from July 24. Here's more.
Stefanidi and Johnson-Thompson voice their frustrations
"The IOC wants us to keep risking our health, our family's health and public health to train every day?" Stefanidi tweeted. "You are putting us in danger right now, today, not in 4 months." Meanwhile, Johnson-Thompson tweeted, "I feel under pressure to train and keep the same routine which is impossible. It's difficult (to) approach the season when everything has changed in the lead-up."
Stefanidi asks genuine questions to IOC
Majority of sports events in the world have been cancelled or postponed. The Olympic qualifying tournaments are among the same. As of now, only 57 percent of athletes have booked their places so far. "It's unbelievable," said Stefanidi. "What about team sports that have to train together? What about swimming? What about gymnastics that they touch the same objects?"
IOC has responded to athletes' concerns
"This is an exceptional situation which requires exceptional solutions. The IOC is committed to finding a solution with the least negative impact for the athletes, while protecting the integrity of the competition and the athletes' health. No solution will be ideal in this situation, and this is why we are counting on the responsibility and solidarity of the athletes," the IOC responded.
What was stated earlier?
Amid the severe crisis, IOC insisted "there is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage" adding that "any speculation at this moment would be counter-productive". Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has insisted the Games will go ahead as planned in July.
Tokyo Olympic Games plans 'irresponsible': says IOC member
Earlier, International Olympic Committee member Hayley Wickenheiser said that plans for the Tokyo Games to go ahead are "insensitive and irresponsible". "This crisis is bigger than even the Olympics," said Wickenheiser. "We don't know what's happening in the next 24 hours, let alone the next three months." Wickenheiser said she understands from an athlete's perspective on what they are feeling right now.
