In a statement released today Tuesday, the IOC does not consider it necessary to "take radical decisions" at this stage and has confirmed its desire to keep the Tokyo Olympics on schedule.
Following the cancellation of the European championships and the Madrid Karate1, according to an official press release published by the WKF on March 13, the Olympic standing should have been completed with the Karate1 in Salzburg (1). But this is not 100% sure yet. The WKF will announce its decision soon.
By Ludovic Mauchien / Photo: DR
The IOC has spoken. As the European and South American football championships have just been postponed to 2021, its executive committee meeting today on Tuesday decided that it was urgent to wait. In a statement, the IOC said it “remains fully committed to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and (that) there is no need to take radical decisions. Any speculation at this point would be counterproductive […] The IOC encourages athletes to continue to prepare as best they can […] and is confident that the many policies taken around the world will help contain the Covid virus-19.
Concerning Olympic qualifications, the IOC “will work with the International federations to make the necessary practical changes to their respective qualification systems in accordance with the following principles :
- All the qualification places already allocated to date remain allocated.
- It is always possible to use the existing and scheduled qualification tests when they ensure fair access for all.
- All the necessary adaptations to the qualification systems and all the allocation of remaining places :
- a) will be based on actual results
- b) reflect the existing principles of the respective qualification systems. An increase in the quota of athletes will be considered on a case-by-case basis in exceptional circumstances, with the assistance of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee”.
For the time being, the Olympic Qualification Tournament scheduled for May 8-10 in Paris is pending. France entered confinement today at noon for at least 15 days.
