Aliann Pompey: ‘Postponing the Olympics the best decision’

The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was the best one, says former national 400m athlete and Olympian Aliann Pompey.

In an exclusive interview with News Room this week, Pompey, a four-time Olympian, reasoned that going ahead with the Olympics this year would have put athletes, their families and the world at large at risk.

On March 24, the IOC confirmed the postponement of the Games because of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The event, originally due to begin on July 24, will now take place “no later than summer 2021”, the IOC confirmed.

“I genuinely believe the decision to postpone the Olympics to a later date was the best one. I think it’s the one that has the least amount of repercussions. Having it at the scheduled date puts so many of the athletes and their families and the world at large at risk,” Pompey, the 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, indicated.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he proposed the postponement of the Olympics and the Paralympic Games for a year and received 100% backing from IOC president Thomas Bach.

The Prime Minister had said that the postponement will make it possible for athletes to play in the best condition, and will make the event a safe and secure one for spectators.

Meanwhile, Pompey also used the opportunity to urge persons to guard themselves and families against the coronavirus by following the guidelines set out by the various health organisations.