Den englischen Artikel veröffentliche Braden Keith.
Der Präsident des Internationalen Olympischen Komitees (IOC), Dr. Thomas Bach, hat über das Athletenprogramm des IOC365 einen Brief geschickt, der direkt an die Olympischen Athleten gerichtet ist und in dem es heißt, dass das IOC “innerhalb der nächsten vier Wochen” eine Entscheidung über das weitere Vorgehen betreffend die Olympischen Spiele in Tokio bekanntgeben wird.
“Gemeinsam mit allen Beteiligten haben wir heute mit einer ausführlichen Diskussionen begonnen, um unsere Einschätzung der raschen Entwicklung der weltweiten Gesundheitssituation und ihrer Auswirkungen auf die Olympischen Spiele, einschließlich eines Szenarios der Verschiebung, abzuwägen”, sagte Bach. “Wir arbeiten sehr hart und sind zuversichtlich, dass wir diese Gespräche innerhalb der nächsten vier Wochen abgeschlossen haben werden.
“Unsere heutige Informationsgrundlage ist, dass eine endgültige Entscheidung über den Termin der Olympischen Spiele Tokio 2020 jetzt noch verfrüht wäre.
Der Brief kommt einen Tag nach Bachs Aussage, dass eine Absage derzeit nicht auf der Agenda stehe und dass man nach kreativen Lösungen für einige der Probleme sucht, die durch eine Verzögerung entstehen würden. Er wiederholte, dass das IOC derzeit keine vollständige Absage prüft, sondern sich stattdessen auf die Optionen einer Verschiebung oder der planmäßigen Durchführung der Veranstaltung im Juli konzentriert.
“Ich weiß, dass diese beispiellose Situation viele Ihrer Fragen offen lässt”, sagte Bach. “Ich weiß auch, dass dieser rationale Ansatz vielleicht nicht mit den Emotionen übereinstimmt, die viele von Ihnen durchmachen müssen. Deshalb ermutigen wir Sie, während wir versuchen, auf Ihre Situation und die Fragen, die Sie möglicherweise zu Ihrem Training, Ihren Qualifikationssystemen und Ihrer Teilnahme an den Spielen haben, einzugehen, ein Auge auf aktuelle Informationen über Athlet365 zu werfen, aber auch in engem Kontakt mit Ihren nationalen Sportfachverbänden und den nationalen Verbänden zu bleiben.”
Bach, der versucht, mit den Athleten persönlich in Kontakt zu treten, erzählt, wie er sich fühlte, als die Bundesrepublik Deutschland die Olympischen Spiele 1980 boykottierte, wodurch er seine beiden olympischen Goldmedaillen nicht mehr verteidigen konnte.
“Ich glaube, ich kann mit denen unter Ihnen fühlen, die die Situation als unbefriedigend empfinden”, sagte Bach. “Auch wenn ich als Athlet im Vorfeld der Olympischen Spiele 1980 in Moskau unter ganz anderen Umständen und aus ganz anderen Gründen eine Erfahrung der Unsicherheit gemacht habe. Wir waren unsicher, ob die Spiele stattfinden würden und ob wir teilnehmen dürften. Ehrlich gesagt hätte ich es vorgezogen, wenn sich die Entscheidungsträger dann mehr Zeit genommen hätten, um auf einer solideren Informationsbasis zu entscheiden”.
Das IOC gab eine Pressemitteilung zu diesem Schreiben heraus, in der es bestätigte, dass das IOC mit der Planung verschiedener Szenarien für den Fall einer Verschiebung der Olympischen Spiele begonnen hat.
“Auf der einen Seite gibt es in Japan, wo die Bevölkerung die olympische Flamme herzlich willkommen heißt, deutliche Verbesserungen. Dies könnte das Vertrauen des IOC in die japanischen Gastgeber stärken, dass das IOC mit gewissen Sicherheitseinschränkungen die Olympischen Spiele im Land organisieren und dabei seinen Grundsatz des Schutzes der Gesundheit aller Beteiligten respektieren könnte.
Japan hat nur 1.086 bestätigte Fälle von nachgewiesen mit dem Coronavirus Infizierten, nachdem die Regierung frühzeitig reagiert hat, einschließlich der Einstellung der Reisen aus dem benachbarten China, und das Land plant, die Schüler am Ende des Monats wieder in die Schule zu schicken.
Auf der anderen Seite gibt es einen dramatischen Anstieg der Fälle und neue Ausbrüche von COVID-19 in verschiedenen Ländern auf verschiedenen Kontinenten. Dies veranlasste den Exekutivrat zu der Schlussfolgerung, dass das IOC den nächsten Schritt in seiner Szenarioplanung unternehmen muss. “
Nachfolgend der komplette Brief von Dr. Thomas Bach in Englisch:
“Dear Fellow Athletes,
In this unprecedented crisis we are all united.
Like you, we are very much concerned about what the COVID-19 pandemic is doing to people’s lives. Human lives take precedence over everything, including the staging of the Games. The IOC wants to be part of the solution. Therefore we have made it our leading principle to safeguard the health of everyone involved, and to contribute to containing the virus. I would like to assure you that we will adhere to this in all our decisions concerning the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
The road to Tokyo is very different for each of you, coming from 206 NOCs. Many of you cannot prepare and train in the way you are used to, or even not at all because of the anti-COVID-19 measures in your country. Many of you are in training and are looking forward to making your Olympic dream come true. Many of you are already qualified for the Games; a significant number are not.
What we all share, however, is tremendous uncertainty. This uncertainty rocks our nerves and raises or strengthens doubts about a positive future; it destroys hope. Some even have to fear for their very existence. This uncertainty stems from the fact that, at this moment, nobody can really make fully reliable statements about the duration of this fight against the virus. This is true for sport, science, the media, politics, and all of society. Therefore also the IOC can unfortunately not answer all your questions. This is why we are relying on the advice of a Task Force including the World Health Organization (WHO).
As successful athletes, you know that we should never give up, even if the chance to succeed appears to be very small. Our commitment to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is based on this experience. It is our experience as athletes that you must always be ready to adapt to new situations. For this reason we have, as indicated before, been thinking in different scenarios and are adapting them almost day by day.
On the one hand, there are significant improvements in Japan where the people are warmly welcoming the Olympic flame. This could strengthen our confidence in our Japanese hosts that we could, with certain safety restrictions, organise Olympic Games in the country whilst respecting our principle of safeguarding the health of everyone involved. On the other hand, we have seen a dramatic increase in cases and new outbreaks of the virus in different countries on different continents. This is why we have to undertake the next step in our scenarios.
I think I can feel with those among you who consider the situation to be unsatisfactory. Even though, in very different circumstances and for very different reasons, I had an experience of uncertainty as an athlete in the lead-up to the Olympic Games Moscow 1980. We were uncertain whether the Games would take place and whether we would be allowed to participate. Quite frankly, I would have preferred it if the decision-makers then would have taken more time to decide on a more sound basis of information.
Our basis of information today is that a final decision about the date of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 now would still be premature.
So, like you, we are in a dilemma: Cancellation of the Olympic Games would destroy the Olympic dream of 11,000 athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees, from the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, most likely for the Paralympic athletes, and for all the people who are supporting you as coaches, doctors, officials, training partners, friends, and family. Cancellation would not solve any problem and would help nobody. Therefore it is not on our agenda.
A decision about a postponement today could not determine a new date for the Olympic Games because of the uncertain developments in both directions: an improvement, as we are seeing in a number of countries thanks to the severe measures being taken or a deteriorating situation in other countries.
Contrary to other sports events, to postpone the Olympic Games is an extremely complex challenge. Just to give you some examples:
A number of critical venues needed for the Games could potentially not be available anymore. The situations with millions of nights already booked in hotels is extremely difficult to handle, and the international sports calendar for at least 33 Olympic sports would have to be adapted. These are just a few of many, many more challenges.
Therefore, further the study of different scenarios, it would need the full commitment and cooperation of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and the Japanese authorities, and of all the International Federations (IFs) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and all stakeholders of the Olympic Games. It is in light of the worldwide deteriorating situation, and in the spirit of our shared commitment to the Olympic Games, that the IOC Executive Board has today initiated the next step in our scenarios.
Together with all the stakeholders, we have started detailed discussions today to complete our assessment of the rapid development of the worldwide health situation and its impact on the Olympic Games, including a scenario of postponement. We are working very hard, and we are confident that we will have finalised these discussions within the next four weeks.
I know that this unprecedented situation leaves many of your questions open. I also know that this rational approach may not be in line with the emotions many of you have to go through. Therefore, as we try to address your situation and the questions you may have about your training, your qualification systems and your participation in the Games, we encourage you to keep an eye out for updates on Athlete365, but also to stay in close contact with your NOCs and National Federations.
I wish, and we all are working for this, that the hope of so many athletes, NOCs and IFs from all five continents have expressed will be fulfilled: that at the end of this dark tunnel we are all going through together, not knowing how long it is, the Olympic flame will be a light at the end of this tunnel.
As a fellow Olympian, I hope that you can understand our challenge, and accept and support our principles which are to safeguard your, your families’ and everyone’s health, and to keep your Olympic dream alive.
Wishing you, your families and your friends first of all good health and all the best, I remain, with kind regards,
(Signed) Thomas Bach”
IOC Complete Press Release
To safeguard the health of all involved and to contribute to the containment of COVID-19, the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced that the IOC will step up its scenario-planning for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
These scenarios relate to modifying existing operational plans for the Games to go ahead on 24 July 2020, and also for changes to the start date of the Games. This step will allow better visibility of the rapidly changing development of the health situation around the world and in Japan. It will serve as the basis for the best decision in the interest of the athletes and everyone else involved.
On the one hand, there are significant improvements in Japan where the people are warmly welcoming the Olympic flame. This could strengthen the IOC’s confidence in the Japanese hosts that the IOC could, with certain safety restrictions, organise Olympic Games in the country whilst respecting its principle of safeguarding the health of everyone involved.
On the other hand, there is a dramatic increase in cases and new outbreaks of COVID-19 in different countries on different continents. This led the EB to the conclusion that the IOC needs to take the next step in its scenario-planning.
A number of critical venues needed for the Games could potentially not be available anymore. The situations with millions of nights already booked in hotels is extremely difficult to handle, and the international sports calendar for at least 33 Olympic sports would have to be adapted. These are just a few of many, many more challenges.
Therefore, further to the study of different scenarios, it would need the full commitment and cooperation of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and the Japanese authorities, and of all the International Federations (IFs) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs). It would also require commitment from, and collaboration with, the Rights-Holding Broadcasters (RHBs) and our TOP Partner sponsors, as part of their continued and valued support to the Olympic Movement, as well as cooperation from all the Games’ partners, suppliers and contractors. It is in this spirit of the Olympic stakeholders’ shared commitment to the Olympic Games, and in light of the worldwide deteriorating situation, that the IOC EB has today initiated the next step in the IOC’s scenario-planning.
The IOC will, in full coordination and partnership with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Japanese authorities and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, start detailed discussions to complete its assessment of the rapid development of the worldwide health situation and its impact on the Olympic Games, including the scenario of postponement. The IOC is confident that it will have finalised these discussions within the next four weeks, and greatly appreciates the solidarity and partnership of the NOCs and IFs in supporting the athletes and adapting Games planning.
The IOC EB emphasised that a cancellation of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would not solve any of the problems or help anybody. Therefore, cancellation is not on the agenda.
After the EB meeting, IOC President Thomas Bach today wrote to the global athlete community to provide them with an explanation of the IOC’s approach.
In the letter, Bach stated once more that safeguarding the health of everyone involved and contributing to contain the virus is the fundamental principle, and said: “Human lives take precedence over everything, including the staging of the Games. The IOC wants to be part of the solution. Therefore we have made it our leading principle to safeguard the health of everyone involved, and to contribute to containing the virus. I wish, and we all are working for this, that the hope so many athletes, NOCs and IFs from all five continents have expressed will be fulfilled: that at the end of this dark tunnel we are all going through together, not knowing how long it is, the Olympic flame will be a light at the end of this tunnel.”
