On Friday, CEO of U.S.A Track and Field (USATF) Max Siegel sent a letter to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, asking for the 2020 Olympics be postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
USATF is the second group to ask the committee to postpone the games, following USA Swimming, which made their request on Friday as well.
In the letter from USATF, Siegel writes that the organization’s “top priority has been, and will continue to be, the health and safety of our athletes, coaches, staff, and volunteer leaders.”
Unfortunately, while our world class athletes are willing to push themselves to their athletic limits in pursuit of Olympic success, the likelihood that they will be able to properly train in a safe and adequate environment, and replicate the excellence we have all come to expect, does not appear likely in the midst of this global crisis. As we have learned, our athletes are under tremendous pressure, stress and anxiety, and their mental health and wellness are among our highest priorities.
The right and responsible thing to do is to prioritize everyone’s health and safety, and appropriately recognize the toll this difficult situation has, and continues to take, on our athletes and their Olympic Games preparations.
Siegel added that while keenly aware of the logistical ramifications, “USATF is respectfully requesting that the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) advocate to the IOC for the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.”
— USATF (@usatf) March 21, 2020
In a similar letter, USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey III wrote:
As this global pandemic has grown, we have watched our athletes’ worlds be turned upside down and watched them struggle to find ways to continue to prepare and train – many for the biggest competitive opportunity of their lives.
Our world class swimmers are always willing to race anyone, anytime and anywhere; however, pressing forward amidst the global health crisis this summer is not the answer.
The right and responsible thing to do is to prioritize everyone’s health and safety and appropriately recognize the toll this global pandemic is taking on athletic preparations. It has transcended borders and wreaked havoc on entire populations, including those of our respected competitors.
Where Hinchey’s letter differs from Siegel’s is that the USA Swimming CEO asks for a postponement of the Olympic Games for “one year” to the summer of 2021.
Former athletes have also voiced concern, including Canada’s Hayley Wickenheiser and Japan’s Kaori Yamaguchi.
37-year-old hurdle-runner and bobsledder Lolo Jones has spoken up, recently saying: “We want to be like everyone else. We want to be healthy, responsible citizens. But we’re also afraid the IOC is going to say, in a month, that the games are on, and, what, hopefully you’re going to still be in shape?”
Jones also tweeted her support for the USATF statement:
I am glad USATF spoke up.
IOC encouraged all athletes to continue to prepare for the Olympic Games
Telling athletes to carry on as normal amidst this public health crisis is irresponsible and demeaning.— Lolo Jones (@lolojones) March 21, 2020
In a joint statement, USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland and USOPC Chair Susanne Lyons express their “empathy for the athlete community,” but note that the IOC “believe that it is premature to make a final call on the date of the Games.” Additionally, they want to give the IOC time to absorb more data and seek out recommendations from experts before a decision is handed down.
Hirshland and Lyons conclude their statement by saying that next week, there will be a meeting of the IOC Executive Board, that the “IOC is polling all the NOCs [National Olympic Committees] to determine the impacts on training that are occurring,” and that the “USOPC will be leaders in providing accurate advice and honest feedback, and be unfailing advocates of the athletes and their safety.”
On Friday, the Olympics Twitter account tweeted out a quote from IOC President Thomas Bach: “While we do not know how long the tunnel we are all in at this moment will be, we would like the Olympic Flame to be a light at the end of this tunnel.”
As the Olympic Flame reaches Tokyo: President Thomas Bach: “while we do not know how long the tunnel we are all in at this moment will be, we would like the Olympic Flame to be a light at the end of this tunnel.” @tokyo2020 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/ORVxrcqzoV
— Olympics (@Olympics) March 20, 2020