XtraTime Web Desk: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday said that they will take at least one month to decide on participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as nations across the globe are expressing concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic.
IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta, while talking to PTI, said the body is closely monitoring the fast-evolving situation triggered by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 14,000 and infected over 300,000.
“We will wait and watch for 4 to 5 weeks and then come to any decision after consultation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the sports ministry,” Mehta said.
“The situation is not that bad in our country as compared to other nations,” he added.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in India has crossed 350, including seven deaths at the time of writing this.
This comes after Canada decided that they will not send their athletes to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced on Sunday it will not send teams to Tokyo unless the Games, which are scheduled to be held from July 24 to August 9, are postponed by a year.