The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has welcomed the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reschedule the 2020 edition of the games but expressed concern about the athletes who have already qualified.
“The Guyana Olympic Association has welcomed the decision of the IOC to reschedule the Tokyo Olympic Games no later than the summer of 2021. This decision which is as a result of Covid19 (Coronavirus) is in the best interest of the public and the athletes,” the local Olympic body said in a statement.
The rescheduling of the summer Olympic Games is the latest causality of the rampant new Coronavirus which is now being considered a global pandemic.
President of the GOA, K.A. Juman-Yassin revealed that the decision to reschedule the games found consensus among members of the executive of the PanAm Sports Organisation. He noted that the IOC followed the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The decision of the President of the IOC and the Prime Minister of Japan was as a result of the information emanating from the WHO that although there was a decrease of the cases of Coronavirus in China and Asia there was, however, an acceleration of cases in other parts of the world and as such there should be a rescheduling of the Games,” Yassin informed.
Yassim noted that the decision will present some complexities moving forward especially dealing with those athletes who have already qualified for the 2020 Games and whether their qualification will hold for the possible 2021 event.
“The question that will have to be determined is what will be the position of those athletes who have already qualified for the Games. Will they have to go over the qualifying tournaments again or will their qualification be allowed to stand?
“About 57% of athletes who have to qualify have already done so and this is a question that the IOC and International Federations will have to determine,” said Yassin. “I do believe that it may be unfair to ask for re-qualification but those athletes may have to show that they are still active and not resting on their haunches. The question of litigation may arise from some unhappy qualified athletes if they are requested to again qualify,” the GOA President explained.
