Matthew Pinsent of Britain, arriving from the Summer Olympics in Athens, gets off the airplane at Gatwick Airport in London, August 30, 2004. /VCG
Over half of the sports world has been shut down due to the outbreak of COVID-19 around the world, but not the Summer Olympics. The International Olympics Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach on Wednesday stressed it's too early to decide the fate of the event, while Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said his government is "not making any adjustments to postpone the Games."
Both the IOC and Japan are trying to send the message that they want the Olympic Games to happen on time.
However, not everyone thinks so. Four-time Olympic rowing champion Sir Matthew Pinsent has called for the 2020 Summer Olympics to be canceled and described the IOC as "tone deaf" for proceeding with the Games while the virus continues to spread.
IOC President Thomas Bach. /VCG
"I'm sorry Mr Bach but this is tone deaf. The instinct to keep safe (not to mention obey govt 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," tweeted Pinsent.
Pinsent, 49, won four men's rowing gold medals at four editions of Olympics from 1992 to 2004. He also has 10 World Rowing Championships titles under his belt. On December 31, 2004, he was made a Knight Bachelor.
Katerina Stefanidi of Greece competes in women's pole vault final at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, September 29, 2019. /AP
Pinsent is not alone. Greek pole vaulter Katerina Stefanidi said the IOC was "risking our health."
British race walker Tom Bosworth told BBC Sport that "a slight delay is probably the best option."
IOC member Hayley Wickenheiser called the organization's decision to move ahead under such circumstances "insensitive and irresponsible given the state of humanity."
Spanish Olympic Committee President Alejandro Blanco preferred that the Olympics be delayed.