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Sports News of Monday, 23 March 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Coronavirus: Canada withdraws athletes from Olympic

Team Canada Team Canada

Canada has pulled back its athletes from participating in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics over coronavirus fears.

Concerns have grown across the globe as the battle against the pandemic continues, casting doubts over the Olympics as major sporting events have been postponed.

Canada's move came shortly after the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, admitted for the first time that the games could be postponed.

As such the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo could be postponed after all.

The Australian team has said it was "clear" the games could not go ahead and told its athletes to prepare for 2021 games.

The Canadians became the first to withdraw from the games due to begin on 24 July.

The country's Olympic and Paralympic committee said it had taken "the difficult decision" to withdraw after consulting athletes, sports groups, and the Canadian government.

It then "urgently called" on the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, and World Health Organization, to postpone the games for a year.

"While we recognise the inherent complexities around a postponement, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community," their statement said.

The Canadian later posted a message on Twitter saying: "Postpone today. Conquer tomorrow."

BBC