The Australian Olympic Committee has released a statement confirming it will press ahead with preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to be held on schedule.
Graham Arnold’s Australia U-23 men’s football team booked their spot at their first Olympic Games since Beijing 2008 with a third-placed finish at the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship.
Perth Glory forward Nick D’Agostino hit the winner that secured the Green and Gold’s spot in a 1-0 third-place playoff victory against Uzbekistan back in January 2020.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is scheduled to take place between 23 July and 8 August, and the International Olympic Committee has stated it is committed to delivering the Games in Japan in four months’ time.
“We recognise there is a global health crisis,” said AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll.
“We recognise that people are suffering – people are sick, people are losing jobs, businesses are struggling amid enormous community uncertainty. Things are changing everyday and we all must adapt.
“Equally, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), advised by the World Health Organisation, has assured us that the Olympic Games in Tokyo are proceeding in four months. We owe it to our Australian athletes to do everything we can to ensure they will participate with the best opportunity in those Games.
“We gain confidence from the IOC’s overriding principles regarding staging the Games. Namely, to protect the health of everyone involved and support the containment of the virus. And secondly to safeguard the interests of the athletes and of Olympic sport.”
Mr Carroll added: “We will continue to monitor and make ongoing decisions to ensure we meet our responsibilities.”
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