The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) announced Sunday evening that they will not send athletes to compete at the Olympic Games scheduled to be held from July 24 to August 9 in Tokyo. Canada is the first nation to pull out of the event amid concerns and risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
Following the announcement by the COC and CPC, Australia’s chef de mission, Ian Chesterman, also urged the ICO postpone the Games until 2021. He also told his country’s athletes to start preparing for the event to be held next year.
The COC and the CPC have called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to postpone the Games for a year.
“We offer them our full support in helping navigate all the complexities that rescheduling the Games will bring. While we recognize the inherent complexities around a postponement, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community,” read the press statement.
The nation’s decision to not send athletes to the Games this summer was backed by Athletes’ Commissions, National Sport Organizations and the Government of Canada, according to a press statement.
“This is not solely about athlete health – it is about public health,” read the press statement.
“With COVID-19 and the associated risks, it is not safe for our athletes, and the health and safety of their families and the broader Canadian community for athletes to continue training towards these Games. In fact, it runs counter to the public health advice which we urge all Canadians to follow.”
The IOC reiterated on Sunday that cancellation of the Olympic Games “is not on the agenda“, but said it would decide in four weeks if the coronavirus pandemic would force a postponement.
The IOC’s executive board (EB) said cancelling the Olympics would “not solve any of the problems or help anybody” but said it will “step up its scenario-planning” for the Games, relating to “modifying existing operational plans for the Games to go ahead on July 24, 2020, and also for changes to the start date of the Games”.
The COC and CPC reviewed the letter sent Sunday by the IOC and said that they were thankful to the IOC for its assurance that it will not be cancelling the Tokyo 2020 Games and appreciative that it understood the importance of accelerating its decision-making regarding a possible postponement.
“We also applaud the IOC for acknowledging that safeguarding the health and wellness of nations and containing the virus must be our paramount concern. We are in the midst of a global health crisis that is far more significant than sport,” the COC and CPC statement read.
“The COC and CPC would like to thank our athletes, partners and the Canadian sport community for their patience and for lending us their voices during these unprecedented times. We remain hopeful that the IOC and IPC will agree with the decision to postpone the Games as a part of our collective responsibility to protect our communities and work to contain the spread of the virus.”
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said that a postponement of the Tokyo Olympics would be unavoidable if the Games cannot be held in a complete way because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report in the CBC. In addition, Abe said that if the Games are postponed, he hoped the IOC would make that decision early because the process would involve a lot of work.
Just three days ago, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he tentatively supported the Olympic Games continuing as planned. However, he made a new public address Monday, stating that he is in agreement with the COC’s decision to not send Canadian athletes to the Games.
“This is absolutely the right call, and everyone should follow their lead,” said Trudeau.
“This is absolutely the right call, and everyone should follow their lead” – Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau praises @TeamCanada & @CDNParalympics for making the difficult decision to not attend #Tokyo2020 in JulyMore on the decision: https://t.co/UXJ7K4drcL pic.twitter.com/lvvRfye6M3March 23, 2020
This decision has not been taken lightly and we fully support @TeamCanada & @CDNParalympics in their decision to not send ?? athletes to #tokyo2020. Our number 1 priority is the safety and well-being of our athletes & community ? https://t.co/UuIQ1Gg0V7March 23, 2020
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
