Tokyo Olympics postponement inevitable? After Canada pulls out, Australia makes big move

ding more pressure on International Olympic Committee (IOC) and host nation Japan, Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has anunced that it has asked it's athletes to prepare for Olympics in 2021.

demands for a cancellation or a years' postponement come due to coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed more than 14,600 lives.

RE: Cana Issues Ultimatum To IOC; 'delay Tokyo Olympics 2020 Or We Won't Participate'

'Prepare for 2021'

A statement released by AOC on Monday re, " AOC says Australian athletes should prepare for a Tokyo Olympic Games in rrn summer of 2021, following IOC’s anuncement of a potential postponement of this year’s Games and changes in public health landscape in Australia and across globe. AOC believes our athletes w need to prioritise ir own health and of those around m, and to be able to return to families, in discussion with ir National Federations."

AOC Chief Executive Matt Carroll says athletes have needed certainty - y wanted to do right thing for mselves, ir families and world community. “We have athletes based overseas, training at central locations around Australia as teams and managing ir own programs. With travel and or restrictions this becomes an untenable situation. IOC h opted key principles of putting athlete health first and ensuring it acted in ir best interests and interests of sport. This decision reflects those principles. We are w in a position where we can plan with greater certainty.”

RE: Cancellation Of Olympic Games 't On nda', Postponement Possible - IOC

anuncement comes minutes after  Canian Olympic Committee and Canian Paralympic Committee (CPC) decided to t send its athletes to this year's Tokyo Olympics.

RE: Global Athletes Group Calls For Postponement Of Olympics

On Sunday, IOC stated that cancellation is 't on nda' but will be assessing all options in next four weeks. In statement released, COC ackwledged IOC letter "We also applaud IOC for ackwledging that safeguarding health and wellness of nations and containing virus must be our paramount concern. We are in midst of a global health crisis that is far more significant than sport."

RE: US President Trump Reveals What He Said To Japan PM Abe On Tokyo Olympics 2020 Amid COVID