Washington Wizards rookie Rui Hachimura issued a statement early Wednesday morning in support of the decision to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games until 2021.
Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach made the decision on Tuesday to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The announcement came just one day after IOC member Dick Pound told USA TODAY Sports that postponement was on the way.
Hachimura was set to play for Japan in the upcoming Olympic Games after appearing in three games for his country in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. He averaged 13.3 points per game before withdrawing due to a knee injury. He believed delaying the Olympic Games was the right decision due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am a competitor and was looking forward to representing Japan in the Olympics this summer but I also understand and support the decision to post the Tokyo Olympics to 2021,” Hachimura said on Twitter. “The world is facing a very difficult challenge and everyone’s focus needs to be on health and safety.”
#StayStrong #Tokyo2021 pic.twitter.com/TXgV3JHgGn
— Rui “Louis” Hachimura 八村 塁 (@rui_8mura) March 25, 2020
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