Tokyo Olympics 2020: Australian athletes praise call to delay Games
The Australian Olympic Committee’s decision to pull out of the Tokyo Games has been praised by the nation’s athletics stars, who say the shift is the best result for athletes around the world.
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World javelin champion Kelsey-Lee Barber says the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics will “level the playing field again”.
Barber said the shifting of the Games to 2021 would be the best result for athletes around the globe.
“I’m really happy that the conversation is there and it’s on the cards,” Barber said.
“I think it would be a different story if we were saying either yes or no regarding this year. I’m feeling very optimistic that they are talking about (2021).
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“It is smart to postpone as it levels the playing field again and gives athletes the opportunity to go out and try and qualify now.
“We only know what we know, there are other countries and other athletes who could be affected so much more by this.”
Barber, who won the world title in Doha in October, said she was confident the momentum from that career breakthrough performance would continue into next year.
“I will try and ride that confidence all the way through to next year,” she said.
“There is absolutely no reason why that shouldn’t still be a lift for me and something which keeps my motivation up.”
Canberra-based Barber, who is coached by her husband Mike, will reassess her training program with the coronavirus restrictions set to impact given the shutting down of the Australian Institute of Sport gymnasium.
“I’m normally in the gym every day so that is a big component,” she said. “We’re going to have to play around a little bit, get creative and sort of set up a home gym.”
Distance star Stewart McSweyn had already booked his spot on his first Olympic team after winning the national 5000m and 10,000m titles but is fully supportive of the decision to put his dream on hold.
“You’re a bit disappointed but I will have other opportunities and next year will come around quick,” McSweyn said.
“You’ve got to reset, refocus training and then be ready to go with all systems next year
“And what it does is give you the opportunity to have another 10 or 12 months of good training so you’d think you would be in better shape for 2021 than what you could be right now.
“So I’m happy to look at it from that perspective.”
Commonwealth Games 800m bronze medallist Luke Mathews said it was a relief not to “be in limbo” anymore.
“There has been so much uncertainty, so it’s good to finally get some clearance,” Mathews said.
He had already been forced to cancel plans to train in America and would now be able to deal with a foot injury without the spectre of the Olympics.
“I’ve been a little banged up so I was like should I try (to qualify) and keep cross-training or should I just rest and see how we go,” Mathews said.
SWIMMING AND WATER POLO
Swimming Australia chief executive Leigh Russell said that, while devastating, it was clear the right call had been made.
“Given the current situation worldwide, it has become evident that it is not safe for the Games to be staged in its current time frame,” Russell said.
“Although it’s a devastating prospect for the Games to be postponed, it is the correct decision, as we must focus on our families and our communities at this challenging time.
“We understand our country is experiencing unprecedented circumstances, as are our athletes who are only just starting to digest this news. We’re very conscious of their mental health and wellbeing and will provide support to our athletes, as well as our coaches and staff, through our wellbeing support networks.
“When the time is right, we will look ahead to the planning phase for 2021 but right now our focus must remain on stopping and slowing the spread of COVID-19 and supporting our people.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Water Polo Australia.
“It was becoming increasingly difficult for our players and staff to focus on training and preparations. We have always put the health and wellbeing of our athletes and staff first and will continue to do so,” said CEO Richard McInnes.
“While the news that the 2020 Olympics is likely to be postponed will be hugely disappointing to the many who have prepared tirelessly, it will be of comfort to athletes to have certainty for the immediate future given the uncertain world we live in.”
HOCKEY
More than half of Australia’s hockey stars were last night scrambling to get back to the east coast before WA shuts its borders after the pin was pulled on this year’s Olympics.
Hockey has its high performance base in Perth and made the decision yesterday to close the training programs for the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras even before the AOC dropped its bombshell that it was telling athletes to prepare for a rescheduled Olympics in 2021.
Most of Australia’s hockey players have relocated to Perth from States on the eastern seaboard, and it’s understood the majority have opted to return home and ride out the coronavirus crisis with their families.
Hockey Australia’s high performance director Toni Cumpston yesterday praised the AOC for the certainty it has given its athletes even before the IOC prepare to make an official decision inside the next month.
“We welcome the decision. It’s really a trying time for everyone at the moment and I think there’s a lot of things happening in the world and in Australia, and for us, whilst it’s disappointing that we won’t have the Olympics, it’s more important that we are able to have our athletes with their families and continue to support the direction the Government and the AOC are taking,” said Cumpston.
“We have been very up front with the athletes right from the start and up until the time the AOC made that decision today, we were still preparing for the Olympics to go ahead this year.
“… (But) we made a decision this morning that it was in the best interests of our athletes and staff that we close the national daily training environment in Perth and give the athletes the option of getting home to their respective home states.
“Particularly given the stuff that happened yesterday with the Federal and State Governments and the announcements they were making regarding potentially closing state borders.
“About half of both of our squads will relocate back to the east coast and we’ve been working through that with them this morning over in Perth.
“While it’s not an easy situation, there’s certainly enough flights and avenues for the athletes to get home so we’ve certainly been able to facilitate that to happen within the next 24 hours which is really pleasing.”
PARALYMPICS
Not to be forgotten are the hopes and dreams of our Paralympic athletes - and while a decision on whether to delay the Paralympics has not yet been made, this shift was welcomed in Australia.
In a release, Paralympics Australia revealed the hardship which is going to be facing some of its athletes.
“For our athletes, the speculation and uncertainty in recent weeks has been a huge burden to carry,” the statement read.
“Most have been unable to train. Many have lost competition and qualification opportunities. Some have, or will in coming weeks and months, lose income streams.
“Our coaches, support staff and sports are also increasingly feeling the strain as the Coronavirus pandemic tightens its hold on our way of life. The impact goes so far beyond sport.”
Originally published as Tokyo Olympics 2020: Australian athletes praise call to delay Games