CYCLING CANADA STATEMENT ON POSTPONEMENT OF 2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS | Cycling Canada Cyclisme
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CYCLING CANADA STATEMENT ON POSTPONEMENT OF 2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS

Ottawa, Ontario (March 24, 2020) – Cycling Canada fully supports the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee and 2020 Tokyo Organizing Committee’s decision to postpone the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games amid the unprecedented global health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Team Canada led the way by announcing Sunday evening that a Canadian delegation would not attend the Games if they took place this summer, signaling to the world and our athletes that health and safety is our main priority.

With this postponement, the IOC has given Canadian athletes the clarity they need to adapt their plans and focus on their health and well-being.

“I’m proud that Canada was the first country to take a stand and say we would not send anyone to Games in the summer of 2020,” said Cycling Canada Head of Performance, Kris Westwood. “The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee have been great leaders in this and we’re looking forward to building plans around new Olympic and Paralympic dates. In the meantime, we can focus on doing our civic duty in helping to battle the pandemic without worrying about compromising our athletes’ performance.”