Audio By Carbonatix
Over three-quarters of track and field athletes surveyed by the Athletics Association want the Tokyo Olympic Games postponed because their training has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Twice Olympic triple jump champion Christian Taylor, who is also the founder of the Athletics Association, said 78% of athletes want the July 24-Aug. 9 Games to be pushed back, while 22% believe it should be cancelled altogether.
"The Olympics have to be put back by a minimum of a year," Taylor wrote in a column for The Times on Tuesday.
"The IOC says it will wait for four weeks but that just increases uncertainty and means we stay stuck in limbo."
More than 4,000 athletes participated in the survey, with 87% saying their preparations for the Games had been adversely by due to the pandemic.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japanese government announced a month-long consultation over other "scenarios" but sources told Reuters a final decision will be taken in the coming days.
The virus has now infected more than 377,000 people across 194 countries, according to a Reuters tally, and over 16,500 people have died.
Taylor, who won gold at the London 2012 Games and Rio 2016 Games, is one of many athletes unable to train due to government protocols on social distancing and facilities being closed.
"I'm not jumping at all. There is no sandpit for me, I have not put on jump spikes for two weeks," said Taylor.
Latest Stories
-
GN Savings ruling poses fiscal and financial-stability risks – Amin Adam
8 minutes -
Amin Adam calls on BoG and Finance Ministry to explain implications of GN Savings ruling
23 minutes -
Restoring GN Savings and Loans will be difficult after years of asset disposal — Dr Kweku Ndoum
26 minutes -
Misrepresentation of GN Bank’s financial position led to collapse – Dr Kweku Nduom
38 minutes -
Collapse of GN Bank led to loss of over 4,500 jobs — Dr Kweku Ndoum
46 minutes -
Arrest and denial of bail being used to intimidate opposition voices — Egyapa Mercer
50 minutes -
GN Savings & Loans: Banking sector clean-up could’ve been managed better – Bobby Banson
1 hour -
National Chief Imam urges Ghanaian pilgrims to uphold discipline and unity ahead of 2026 Hajj
1 hour -
Gov’t owed GN Bank GH¢300m in unpaid IPCs before reclassification and licence revocation — Dr Kweku Ndoum
2 hours -
Fernandes named Premier League player of season
2 hours -
BoG failed in its supervisory role in GN Bank crisis — Senyo Hosi
2 hours -
Mahama cuts sod for Bole College of Education, unveils major development projects for Savannah Region
2 hours -
NDC tightens control over media representation
2 hours -
GN Savings licence revocation came as a shock – Dr Kweku Ndoum
2 hours -
GN Bank was not insolvent before downgrade and licence revocation – Kweku Ndoum
2 hours