Olympic Games | 24 Mar 2020

President KRAMER: The only right thing to do

 

In a joint statement made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, it was announced today that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games have been postponed to no later than the summer of 2021.

 

This decision was taken in light of the spread of COVID-19 worldwide and to best protect athletes, officials and fans alike.

 

“The only right thing to do. I understand and support all our players, coaches and officials in their ambition to perform at the highest possible level, but the highest priority is to defend the public health of people all around the globe. I fully agree with the IOC and the Japanese authorities that under the present circumstances it is very wise to postpone the Olympic Games to the summer of 2021,” stated ETTU President Ronald KRAMER.

 

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) also expresses its support of today's decision.

 

"As partners of the IOC since 1988, we at the ITTF have lived very good times. We have grown as an Olympic sport and, more than ever, we are here to say that we wholeheartedly support today's IOC decision. We are conscious of how difficult it is to deal with the organisation of a quadrennial event of such magnitude as the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said ITTF President, Thomas Weikert.

 

In their annoumcment ITTF also stated:

 

“Since this is fresh, yet wholly understandable, news to all of the International Federations, the ITTF will now study further all of the implications and will work with the IOC on what this means from a sporting perspective.”