ZCZC
BSP-07
OLY-2020-AUS-HEALTH-VIRUS-EPIDEMIC-CAN
Australia deny Canada collusion over Olympic pullout
SYDNEY, March 30, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The Australian Olympic Committee on
Monday refuted suggestions it had colluded with Canadian counterparts to
withdraw from the Tokyo Games to pressure organisers into a postponement.
Both countries said last week, in statements released in quick succession,
that they would not send teams to the Olympics in July because of the
coronavirus pandemic.
A day later, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) postponed the Games
until 2021.
The chain of events led to media speculation that the countries’ Olympic
Committees had been in cahoots to pressure organisers to call off the Games,
or had acted in concert with the IOC to give the global body leverage to
postpone Tokyo.
“Any assertions that a decision by the AOC (Australian Olympic Committee)
to tell its athletes to plan for a Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 was done in
concert with either the IOC or the Canadian Olympic Committee are completely
incorrect,” the AOC said in a statement.
The decision, it added, followed a sequence of events including
restrictions on international travel by the Australian government, quarantine
requirements at borders and closure of training facilities.
It had also noted a decision by the IOC last Monday to consider scenario
planning for the 2020 Games, including a possible postponement.
“The effect of these measures as outlined, informed the executive’s
conclusion that an Australian Olympic team could not depart our shores for a
Games at any time within the next six months, at least,” the AOC added.
AOC chief executive Matt Carroll said last week athletes needed certainty
on what was happening, and they must also prioritise their health in the new
coronavirus world.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1341 hrs