Athletes asked to go ahead with their preparations: IOC adopts wait and see policy for Olympics

By Abdul Mohi Shah

ISLAMABAD: International Olympic Committee (IOC) has adopted wait and see policy, directing athletes, preparing for the mega event, to go ahead with their preparations.

President IOC Thomas Bach held more than one hour video conference with Asian countries’ National Olympic Committee heads Thursday.

The meeting that was also attended by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) representatives and Tokyo Olympic organisers discussed in length and breadth on the Olympic Games getting under way from July 24 to August 9.

“The IOC President has made it clear that Olympic Movement and athletes are the top priority and IOC’s every action and decision would be guided by these factors. We will adopt wait and see policy as far as Tokyo Olympic Games are concerned in wake of serious threats from Coronavirus,” Lt Gen (rtd) Arif Hasan, president Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) who participated in the video call said.

He said that IOC president asked all the National Olympic Committees to coordinate with respective federations and ensure contentious training of athletes planning to compete in the Games.

“Tell your athletes to continue their preparations from the Games. The NOC should also continue with their preparations aiming at preparing the nation to compete in the mega Games.”

The worst hit country from Coronavirus Chinese Olympic Association revealed that their preparations for the Games were in full swing. “Our athletes training never stopped as they continue training and improving ahead of their participation in the Games.

“Even the organisers from Tokyo said they are ready to host the Games and have already completely all their pre-Games preparations and arrangements. We want the Games to go ahead as planned,” the organisers said.

Thomas Bach however said that the IOC would be closely monitoring the situation and discuss further updates with the NOC in due course.

“We will continue to monitor situation as it comes. Further discussion with the NOCs will be held in April. For the time being the Games will be held as planned in Tokyo,” Thomas Bach said.

He admitted during the discussion that it was very painful to even think of postponement as the hosts country put in years and years of efforts to prepare and get ready for the mega event.

It has been learnt that majority of countries opposed postponement of Games in wake of the virus that has already reached in 174 countries around the world. The IOC is expected to issue official hand out on the outcome of these discussion at the end of their on-going endeavour.