USA Track and Field asks Olympics committee for postponement

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The USA Track and Field organization became the first biggest sports body to ask the Japanese Olympics committee for the 2020 Tokyo postponement.

After the Japanese Olympics Committee’s decision of pushing through with the exact scheduled plan despite the COVID-19 pandemic, several countries and sporting organizations showed their concern towards the athletes and coaches’ safety.

Max Siguel, the USA Track and Field head, wrote a letter to the Tokyo Olympics committee respectfully requesting the postponement of the 2020 Olympics.

Siguel emphasized in his letter that everyone’s safety is at risk if the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will still push through.

“The right and responsible thing to do is to prioritize everyone’s health and safety and appropriately recognize the toll this difficult situation has, and continues to take, on our athletes and their Olympic Games preparations,” wrote Siegel.

Previously, US President Donald Trump issued a statement towards his desire for halting the Tokyo Olympics.

However, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fast with his reply regarding Trump’s statements, saying that they will push through with their schedule.