IOC president says international confusion about virus effects delayed decision to postpone
Thomas Bach invokes comments by U.S. president in defence of response
A day after officially postponing the Tokyo Olympics, IOC president Thomas Bach invoked comments by President Donald Trump to defend himself from criticism on Wednesday.
Bach spoke to about 400 reporters on a conference call and was quizzed why, despite growing concern from athletes, it took so long to postpone the Tokyo Games. He noted that many governments have imposed social limits only into next month and pointed to Trump's hope of easing restrictions by mid-April.
"In the last couple of weeks the measures of many governments, they were limited until middle of April, some beginning of May," the International Olympic Committee president said. "You have maybe seen the latest declarations there in the United States from President Trump about the prospect of middle of April there being able to lift many restrictions."
Bach and the IOC faced mounting criticism last week from athletes, including Olympic gold medallists, for continuing to publicly support holding the Tokyo Games as scheduled from July 24-Aug. 9. The Canadian Olympic committee said before the decision it would not send a team to Tokyo in 2020.
WATCH | Canadian athletes react to postponement of 2020 Games:
Canada was the first country to say it would not go to an Olympics in July, but Bach downplayed the impact that had on the IOC's decision.
"There were calls between our athletes' commission and many athletes' representatives around the world and then finally in all this consultation last week, we had a telephone conference with all the national Olympic committees, with all the international federations," Bach said.
"At the end of this conference, we had a one-by-one vote for each international federation whether they agree with the strategy proposed by the IOC executive board and we had this one-by-one vote, unanimous support, including from the Canadian Olympic Committee. "
Bach also made it clear that the choice to participate this summer should have been left to the individual athletes.
"It is the right of every athlete to decide — if qualified — he or she wants to participate in the Olympic Games and I do not think that such a decision can be taken by a majority vote by anybody," he said.
"There we have to respect the rights of the athlete, if the athlete decides, this is his good right."
IOC was faced with mounting pressure
Even Trump said on March 12 at the White House that the Olympics should be postponed for a year.
The IOC board's eventual decision on Tuesday, with Japanese government agreement, to delay until 2021 came a day after the World Health Organization said the coronavirus pandemic is accelerating.
Bach was also asked by a reporter from his native Germany if he had thought of resigning because of the athletes' criticism.
"No," he replied.
WATCH | Rob Pizzo looks at past Olympic Games that were cancelled or boycotted:
The postponement calls for the Tokyo Games to take place no later than the summer 2021, and Bach was asked about options if the pandemic continued into next year.
"We want, and we will, organize the games only in a safe environment," he said.
Although an exact one-year postponement to July 23-Aug. 8 is possible, the Tokyo Games don't have to open in July.
"All the options are on the table," Bach said, adding that a task force of IOC and Japanese officials named "Here We Go" is looking at new dates.
"This task force can consider the broader picture. This is not just restricted to the summer months," Bach said.
WATCH | Postponement could hinder career for some athletes:
The IOC president called for compromise on all sides as the biggest sports event of 2020 now lands in the already congested calendar of 2021. Both track and swimming have their world championships scheduled for next year in July and August.
"This postponed Olympic Game will need sacrifices," Bach said.
One issue for Tokyo organizers is retaining control of the village set to house most of the 11,000 athletes. The sprawling site on Tokyo Bay of more than 5,600 apartments is to be sold off after the Olympics. About 25% have reportedly been sold, with some costing more than $1 million.
"It is one of the many thousands of questions this task force will have to address," Bach said.
One potential problem looks easily resolved. Sponsors whose IOC deals expire this year will continue through the rescheduled games, which will still be called the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. They include Dow, General Electric and P&G.
"We see their full support for this," Bach said. "For me, it's a logical consequence that the sponsors ... keep their rights even if the games are organized in '21."
With files from CBC Sports
