International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach spoke with all 206 NOCs including the BVIOC on Friday, January 22 and confirmed all are fully committed to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
With 6 months to go until the Games, President Bach reaffirmed the IOC’s commitment to the Games to be held on July 23, 2021. “Together with its Japanese partners and friends, the IOC is fully concentrated on and committed to the successful delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 this year.”
BVIOC President Ephraim Penn and Secretary General, Lloyd Black took part in the virtual meeting.
“The IOC and organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games have been in continuous discussions on how to host the Games safely – both for the competing athletes and delegations as well as for the host country,” said Mr. Penn. “There is full commitment to seeing the Games through which is a message that must be made clear to all athletes who are currently training and preparing to compete.”
The BVIOC through Chef de Mission for the Games, Mrs. Tahesia Harrigan-Scott have constant contact with the elite track and field athletes slated to compete at Tokyo 2020. This includes Eldred Henry (shot put) and Kyron McMaster (400m Hurdles) qualified for their events in 2019 and Chantel Malone (long jump) and Tokyo 2020 hopeful Ashley Kelly (400m).
“All of our athletes are doing well,” said Mrs. Harrigan-Scott. “While their training schedules had to be adapted to meet with the COVID-19 restrictions and regulations, all four of the athletes are focused, working hard and are determined to be on their best form when the summer comes around. There’s no denying that the lack of competitions and a dead season can take its toll, but they each have a support network not just through their coaches and peers, but also through each other and a pro-active Executive at the BVIOC who ensure that their needs are being met so as to minimize any distraction from the task at hand.”
In addition to the elite athletes, Thad Lettsome (sailing) and Elinah Philip (swimming) are also hopeful of gaining a spot on the team through the Universality programme but this will not be confirmed until closer to the Games in July.
Mrs. Harrigan-Scott will be attending the Chef de Mission meeting on February 9 where updates on the preparations for the Games will be shared by the Tokyo 2020 organisers.
Rumours of cancellation “categorically untrue”
A statement issued by the IOC on January 22 also rebutted news reports which cast doubt on the support from the Tokyo Government quoting a statement made by the Japanese Government:
“Some news reports circulating today are claiming that the Government of Japan has privately concluded that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled because of the coronavirus. This is categorically untrue.
“At an IOC Executive Board meeting in July last year, it was agreed that the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would be held on July 23 this year, and the programme and venues for the Games were rescheduled accordingly. All parties involved are working together to prepare for a successful Games this summer.
“We will be implementing all possible countermeasures against COVID-19 and will continue to work closely with the IOC, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in our preparations for holding a safe and secure Games this summer.”
