BWF MEDIA STATEMENT
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons welcomed yesterday’s decision to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
IOC President Thomas Bach and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe confirmed the postponement of the the Olympic Games decision after conference call among leaders on Tuesday.
Parsons said in a statement: “Postponing the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games as a result of the global COVID-19 outbreak is absolutely the right thing to do. The health and well-being of human life must always be our number one priority and staging a sport event of any kind during this pandemic is simply not possible,” he said.
“Sport is not the most important thing right now, preserving human life is.
“By taking this decision now, everyone involved in the Paralympic Movement, including all Para athletes, can fully focus on their own health and well-being and staying safe during this unprecedented and difficult time.
“When the Paralympic Games do happen in Tokyo next year, they will be a spectacular global celebration of humanity coming together again as one.
“In the meantime, we will liaise and work closely with our athlete community, National Paralympic Committees and International Federation impacted by this postponement.”
