Over three-quarters of track and field athletes surveyed by the Athletics Association want the Tokyo Olympic Games postponed because their training has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Twice Olympic triple jump champion Christian Taylor, who is also the founder of the Athletics Association, said 78% of athletes want the July 24-Aug. 9 Games to be pushed back, while 22% believe it should be cancelled altogether.
"The Olympics have to be put back by a minimum of a year," Taylor wrote in a column for The Times on Tuesday.
"The IOC says it will wait for four weeks but that just increases uncertainty and means we stay stuck in limbo."
More than 4,000 athletes participated in the survey, with 87% saying their preparations for the Games had been adversely by due to the pandemic.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japanese government announced a month-long consultation over other "scenarios" but sources told Reuters a final decision will be taken in the coming days.
The virus has now infected more than 377,000 people across 194 countries, according to a Reuters tally, and over 16,500 people have died.
Taylor, who won gold at the London 2012 Games and Rio 2016 Games, is one of many athletes unable to train due to government protocols on social distancing and facilities being closed.
"I'm not jumping at all. There is no sandpit for me, I have not put on jump spikes for two weeks," said Taylor.
Latest Stories
-
George Twum-Barimah-Adu pledges inclusive cabinet with Minority and Majority leaders
9 mins -
Labourer jailed 5 years for inflicting cutlass wounds on businessman
10 mins -
Parliament urged to fast-track passage of Road Traffic Amendment Bill
11 mins -
Mr Daniel Kofi Asante aka Electrician
11 mins -
Minerals Commission, Solidaridad unveils forum to tackle child labour in mining sector
16 mins -
Election 2024: Engagement with security services productive – NDC
18 mins -
‘Let’s work together to improve sanitation, promote health outcome’ – Sector Minister urges
19 mins -
Ellembelle MP cuts sod for six-unit classroom block at Nkroful Agric SHS
22 mins -
‘I’ll beat the hell out of you if you misbehave on December 7’ – Achiase Commanding Officer
25 mins -
AFPNC leads the charge on World Prematurity Day 2024
31 mins -
Court remands unemployed man over theft of ECG property
37 mins -
Election security rests solely with the police – Central Regional Police Command
39 mins -
NCCE engages political youth activists at Kumbungu on tolerance
39 mins -
‘In Mahama’s era students lacked chalk, but are now receiving tablets’ – Bawumia
49 mins -
Project commissioning not a ploy to attract votes – Oppong Nkrumah
51 mins