24 Mar '20: COVID-19 Updates

24 Mar '20: Update from IOC & LOC

Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee - March 24

Dear Athletes, Coaches, NFs,

It was less than 24 hours ago when we informed you of the latest meetings that the IOC held to look for different scenarios for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and now I am contacting you again with the latest information. The IOC and Tokyo 2020 have just sent a joint statement saying that "in the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community".

The World Triathlon staff, as any other Olympic organization, is now fully working together with the IOC, Tokyo 2020 and all stakeholders to help to find out the best possible date and all the possible scenarios. As you can understand, finding dates and solutions need a bit of time, and we ask for your patience and cooperation on this matter. We will get back to you all with answers as soon as we have them.

Always yours in Sport,

Marisol Casado
World Triathlon President
IOC Member

 

STATEMENT FROM THE IOC - March 24

Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Abe Shinzo, held a conference call this morning to discuss the constantly changing environment with regard to COVID-19 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

They were joined by Mori Yoshiro, the President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee; the Olympic Minister, Hashimoto Seiko; the Governor of Tokyo, Koike Yuriko; the Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission, John Coates; IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper; and the IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, Christophe Dubi.

President Bach and Prime Minister Abe expressed their shared concern about the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and what it is doing to people’s lives and the significant impact it is having on global athletes’ preparations for the Games.

In a very friendly and constructive meeting, the two leaders praised the work of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and noted the great progress being made in Japan to fight against COVID-19.

The unprecedented and unpredictable spread of the outbreak has seen the situation in the rest of the world deteriorating. Yesterday, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the COVID-19 pandemic is "accelerating". There are more than 375,000 cases now recorded worldwide and in nearly every country, and their number is growing by the hour.

In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.

The leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present. Therefore, it was agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in Japan. It was also agreed that the Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

 

23 Mar '20: Update from IOC

The IOC released some statements yesterday with regards to the 2020 Olympic Games.  In essence, they feel it is premature to decide about the postponing the event right now.  They will endeavour to make a final decision in 4 weeks.

All press released have been uploaded to this blog.  Look below for the documents named “20200322….”

 

16 Mar '20: Training & Events Suspended

In line with the restrictions imposed by the President on Sunday, 15 March 2020, to curb group gatherings in an attempt to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus and subsequent directives from SASOC, ASA, TSA and the Western Cape Sports Council, all club training sessions for the month of March, have been cancelled.  This follows the cancellation of all events, which were dur to take place up to the Easter weekend.

Below, is a excerpt of the statement from SASCOC:

TRAINING

Athletes who are healthy are advised to continue training but to modify their approach in order to limit exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19). This may mean:

Smaller training groups.

Adapting training times to go to training venue when less busy.

Discussing home-based programmes with your coach where plausible

Extra vigilance with precautionary measures such as hand washing and sanitising, cough etiquette, avoiding handshakes/hugs/physical contact.

Athletes who have any symptoms of respiratory or other illness are advised to refrain from training until symptoms resolve or medical advice is obtained.

 

If an athlete has recently travelled to an area with coronavirus (COVID-19) and displays any signs and symptoms of respiratory illness (sore throat, cough, fever, shortness of breath), please contact the South Africa COVID-19 HOTLINE: 0800 029 999 (Mon-Fri 8am – 4pm) for advice on testing and/or self-isolation.

 

This article makes for some good reading with regards to exercise and immunity:  https://www.google.co.za/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/well/move/exercise-immunity-infection-coronavirus.amp.html

 

Please visit this link to read the President’s full statement and for the latest updates on the epidemic:  https://sacoronavirus.co.za/category/press-releases-and-notices/

 

The documents attached hereto contain the various noticiations received by the club.

Regards

ATC