Four-time Olympic rowing champion Matthew Pinsent describes Bach's comments as "tone deaf" and calls for Games to be postponed
Wednesday 18 March 2020 23:16, UK
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach says "constructive" talks have been held with athlete representatives following complaints over plans to proceed with Tokyo 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Both the IOC and Japanese government have remained resolute over Tokyo 2020 starting on July 24, despite various other major events - both sporting and other - having been called off because of the virus.
Bach insisted that the IOC's priorities were "safeguarding the health of the athletes and contributing to the containment of the virus," but reiterated a desire to stick to the current schedule.
"We just had a really great call with 220 athletes' representatives from all around the world," Bach said. "It was very constructive and gave us a lot of insight because we said we will continue to be very realistic in our analysis.
"We were confronted with many questions concerning the qualification system and the restrictions being in place now. But we were also very constructive in a way that it was in consideration of the way to Tokyo.
"Everybody realised that we still have more than four months to go and we will address this action, and we will keep acting in a responsible way in the interest of the athletes"
Wednesday's call followed criticism from several athletes over plans to press ahead with the Olympics as originally scheduled.
Great Britain's heptathlon world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who trains in France, said she feels "under pressure" after lockdown laws made maintaining her routine "impossible".
Meanwhile, Greece's 2016 Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi said that the IOC was asking athletes to "risk their health" and putting them and their families in "danger".
Four-time Olympic rowing champion Matthew Pinsent took to Twitter following Bach's comments, and described the IOC president as "tone deaf," while calling for Tokyo 2020 to be postponed.
"I'm sorry Mr Bach but this is tone deaf," said Britain's Pinsent, who won gold at four consecutive Olympics from 1992 until 2004.
"The instinct to keep safe (not to mention obey government instructions to lock down) is not compatible with athlete training, travel and focus that a looming Olympics demands of athletes, spectators organisers etc. Keep them safe. Call it off."
