Paris (AFP)
Ex-world tennis player Naomi Osaka said she was "disappointed" on Saturday by the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, but said she supported "100%" the decision made by the Japanese Prime Minister and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
"I am obviously disappointed that this is not happening this year, but we will all be ready and stronger than ever in 2021," wrote the Japanese player on her Twitter account.
"I support the courageous decision of Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe and the IOC 100%," added the Japanese, before calling "people from all countries (...) to come together to save as many lives as we can "in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused more than 30,000 deaths worldwide and got the better of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
"For me, that's the Olympic spirit," said the current N.10 in the WTA ranking, double winner in the Grand Slam (Australian Open and US Open).
The Osaka statements come four days after the historic postponement of the 2020 Olympics, which will be held no later than the summer of 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is the first time in the modern era of the Olympic Games that the world's largest sporting event has been postponed in peacetime.
The pandemic also caused the suspension of the male (ATP) and female (WTA) tennis circuits until June 7, as well as the freezing of the rankings.
© 2020 AFP