A member of the Japanese Olympic Committee has called for the 2020 Summer Olympics to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kaori Yamaguchi, a JOC board member, feels that the games scheduled to begin July 24 and end August 9 in Tokyo should be pushed back because coronavirus restrictions have prevented athletes from properly preparing for their events. According to a report posted by cnn.com on Thursday afternoon, Yamaguchi also told The Nikkei, a Japanese newspaper, that travel concerns have stopped people from planning trips to the upcoming Summer Olympics, which are scheduled to include men’s and women’s boxing events.
Yamaguchi intends to voice her concerns at a JOC board meeting set for March 27. The International Olympic Committee has continually stated that the 2020 Summer Olympics will proceed as planned, despite the devastation COVID-19 has caused throughout the world.
“The Olympics should not be held in a situation people in the world can’t enjoy,” said Yamaguchi, who won a bronze medal in judo at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Olympic boxing qualifying events have been postponed worldwide due to this pandemic.
“As far as I can tell, athletes in the United States and Europe are unable to train as normal and finish their qualifying matches,” Yamaguchi said. “That makes it impossible for them to appear well prepared at the start, with all the associated risks.”
Hayley Wickenheiser, an IOC member, stated Tuesday that it would be “insensitive and irresponsible” to proceed with the Summer Olympics. More than 11,000 athletes from 206 countries are expected to participate in 33 Olympic sports in Japan this summer.
USA Boxing announced Tuesday that due to coronavirus restrictions its selection procedures for its men’s and women’s Olympic teams are under review and could be amended. USA Boxing previously announced that it had postponed all sanctioned amateur events in the United States, including state Golden Gloves tournaments, through March 31.
Numerous professional boxing events throughout the world have been postponed until at least the end of April.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.