We will not pull out – Kaxuxuena
Some athletes who have already qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games as well as a local coach said that training intensity has not dropped and they will not pull out of the prestigious event, come hell or high water.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
Windhoek
Namibian athletes from different sporting disciplines have qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, set for 24 July to 9 August.
However, athletes are caught between a rock and a hard place due to the coronavirus pandemic, but continue to prepare intensively for the slated games.
This is aided by the fact that organisers of the games are adamant to host the sporting event with spectators in attendance, despite the fact that the virus continues to spread rapidly across the world, bringing sporting activities all over the world to their knees as mass gatherings substantially increase the risk of infection.
Athletes speak out
The coach of Namibia's top female long-distance runner Helalia Johannes, Robert Kaxuxuena, said Johannes continues to train as usual and that not much has changed since the outbreak.
“We are just taking precautions when it comes to training, but the intensity has not dropped and we don't plan on pulling out,” he said.
Kaxuxuena further added that the decision will not change unless the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announces otherwise.
Local amateur boxer Jonas Junias Jonas is also looking forward to the games as he plans on turning professional soon after, aiming to get paid to fight.
“There is hunger at amateur level and because of that, I have represented my country very well. If I had a job, I wouldn't worry, but now I don't and I have to depend on boxing,” he said.
Asked how he plans to protect himself from the virus as boxing is a contact sport, he said he hopes the virus will be contained by July.
Two other athletes, cyclist Vera Adrian and Dan Craven, did not respond to questions regarding their stance on the coronavirus and their participation in the games.
However, rower Maike Diekmann said nothing has been confirmed yet. “For now, I'm training every day like the games will still take place in July. Unfortunately, we don't know anything for sure yet. But I'm positive that Japan and the IOC will come up with the best possible solution.
“I'm not scared. I trust the people in charge to make the big decisions,” she added.
Insensitive and irresponsible
IOC member Hayley Wickenheiser however said plans for the games to go ahead are “insensitive and irresponsible”.
“This crisis is bigger than even the Olympics. We don't know what's happening in the next 24 hours, let alone the next three months,” she said.
Wickenheiser was part of the Canada team that won four successive ice hockey golds at the Winter Olympics.
On Twitter, she wrote: “From an athlete perspective, I can only imagine and try to empathise with the anxiety and heartbreak athletes are feeling right now.
“Athletes can't train, attendees can't plan their travels. Sponsors and marketers can't market with any degree of sensitivity. I think the IOC insisting this will move ahead, with such conviction, is insensitive and irresponsible given the state of humanity.”
Full steam ahead
The minister for the Tokyo Olympics, Seiko Hashimoto, said they are doing their utmost to prepare to hold the Olympics as scheduled so that the IOC is convinced that they are capable of hosting the games.
This despite the fact that Japan has seen over 1 600 people testing positive for the coronavirus, and several deaths.
Windhoek
Namibian athletes from different sporting disciplines have qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, set for 24 July to 9 August.
However, athletes are caught between a rock and a hard place due to the coronavirus pandemic, but continue to prepare intensively for the slated games.
This is aided by the fact that organisers of the games are adamant to host the sporting event with spectators in attendance, despite the fact that the virus continues to spread rapidly across the world, bringing sporting activities all over the world to their knees as mass gatherings substantially increase the risk of infection.
Athletes speak out
The coach of Namibia's top female long-distance runner Helalia Johannes, Robert Kaxuxuena, said Johannes continues to train as usual and that not much has changed since the outbreak.
“We are just taking precautions when it comes to training, but the intensity has not dropped and we don't plan on pulling out,” he said.
Kaxuxuena further added that the decision will not change unless the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announces otherwise.
Local amateur boxer Jonas Junias Jonas is also looking forward to the games as he plans on turning professional soon after, aiming to get paid to fight.
“There is hunger at amateur level and because of that, I have represented my country very well. If I had a job, I wouldn't worry, but now I don't and I have to depend on boxing,” he said.
Asked how he plans to protect himself from the virus as boxing is a contact sport, he said he hopes the virus will be contained by July.
Two other athletes, cyclist Vera Adrian and Dan Craven, did not respond to questions regarding their stance on the coronavirus and their participation in the games.
However, rower Maike Diekmann said nothing has been confirmed yet. “For now, I'm training every day like the games will still take place in July. Unfortunately, we don't know anything for sure yet. But I'm positive that Japan and the IOC will come up with the best possible solution.
“I'm not scared. I trust the people in charge to make the big decisions,” she added.
Insensitive and irresponsible
IOC member Hayley Wickenheiser however said plans for the games to go ahead are “insensitive and irresponsible”.
“This crisis is bigger than even the Olympics. We don't know what's happening in the next 24 hours, let alone the next three months,” she said.
Wickenheiser was part of the Canada team that won four successive ice hockey golds at the Winter Olympics.
On Twitter, she wrote: “From an athlete perspective, I can only imagine and try to empathise with the anxiety and heartbreak athletes are feeling right now.
“Athletes can't train, attendees can't plan their travels. Sponsors and marketers can't market with any degree of sensitivity. I think the IOC insisting this will move ahead, with such conviction, is insensitive and irresponsible given the state of humanity.”
Full steam ahead
The minister for the Tokyo Olympics, Seiko Hashimoto, said they are doing their utmost to prepare to hold the Olympics as scheduled so that the IOC is convinced that they are capable of hosting the games.
This despite the fact that Japan has seen over 1 600 people testing positive for the coronavirus, and several deaths.
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