Canada refrains from participating in the Olympic Games

Toronto (dpa) - Canada has decided not to send athletes to the Olympic Games this summer because of the corona pandemic and only wants to take part in a postponement.

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) communicated a corresponding decision on Sunday (local time) on its website. "This is not a boycott," said communications director Photi Sotiropoulos of the German press agency. If the games are to be held at a later point in time when there is no longer any health risk from the spread of the corona virus, Canada would be happy to be in Tokyo. The country's Paralympic Committee (CPC) made a corresponding decision for the Paralympics.

The two associations agreed to support the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in the event of a postponement of the Olympic Games in all of the difficulties that such a decision would entail in view of the complex calendar in world sport. Nothing is more important than the health and protection of athletes and the global community, the message said. The games in Tokyo are scheduled for July 24th to August 9th, 2020.

After massive pressure from around the world, the IOC had previously announced a decision about a possible postponement within four weeks. For the first time, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe publicly considered postponing the Summer Olympics due to the Corona crisis. In front of the parliament in Tokyo, he said that this must be expected. However, there could be no question of a cancellation.

The National Olympic Committee of Australia (AOC) has meanwhile called on its athletes to prepare for a postponement of the Tokyo Games to the summer of 2021. "It is clear that the games cannot be hosted in July. Our athletes were fantastic in their positive attitudes in training and preparation, but the stress and insecurity were extremely challenging for them," said the Tokyo team boss of the association, Ian Chesterman, on Monday. The games in Japan are scheduled from July 24th to August 9th, 2020. Because of the Corona crisis, there is a shift in the room.