USA Swimming Calls For One-Year Postponement Of 2020 Olympic Games
Mar 20, 2020, 1:19 PM | Updated: 1:29 pm
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – USA swimming sent a letter to the United States Olympic Committee calling for a one-year postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo due to coronavirus concerns.
The letter was addressed to U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland on Friday, March 20.
“The right thing and responsible thing to do is prioritize everyone’s health and safety and appropriately recognize the toll this pandemic is taking on athletic preparations,” wrote USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey III. “It is with the burden of these serious concerns that we respectfully request that the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee advocate for the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 by one year.”
USA Swimming respectfully requests that the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee advocate for the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. pic.twitter.com/q5bhUwi05q
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) March 20, 2020
“As this global pandemic has grown, we have watched our athletes’ worlds be turned upside down and watched them struggle to find ways to continue to prepare and train — many for the biggest competitive opportunity of their lives,” wrote Hinchey.
Coronavirus concerns have caused postponements, pauses, and cancellations across the sporting world. Since March 12, the four major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL) have all seen adjustments to game schedules or league operations due to the virus. The annual NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments were canceled and won’t take place for the first time since 1938.
The 2020 Summer Olympics are scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan from Friday, July 24 to Sunday, August 9. The game will broadcast on KSL TV.
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The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.
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Additional Resources
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