The Canadian Olympic Committee announced on Sunday that they will not send athletes to compete in the Olympic Games set to be held in Tokyo this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“With COVID-19 and the associated risks, it is not safe for our athletes, and the health and safety of their families and the broader Canadian community for athletes to continue training towards these Games,” the Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement. “In fact, it runs counter to the public health advice which we urge all Canadians to follow.”
Canada is the first country to pull out of the 2020 Tokyo Games due to the coronavirus outbreak and they also called upon the International Olympic Committee to consider postponing the Games until 2021. The IOC announced last week they will make a decision within four weeks on the status of the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Canada sent 314 athletes across 27 sports to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio where they collected 22 medals, including four gold. Athletes Penny Oleksiak (swimming), Rosie MacLennan (gymnastics), Derek Drouin (high jump) and Erica Wiebe (wrestling) all took home gold medals.
Canada was set to make a strong run in basketball this summer with several of the top countrymen committing to play in the qualifying tournament in June, including Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, R.J. Barrett, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Oshae Brissett among others.
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