Paris (AFP)
World Athletics Federation president Sebastian Coe on Thursday called on Tokyo Olympics organizers not to rush before making a decision on whether to attend the competition.
“I hope the decision doesn't come too soon as I see no reason why decisions should be forcibly ingested as the world is changing, as vaccines are being rolled out. it is a decision that does not necessarily have to be taken at this time, "he told a press conference after a World Athletics Council meeting.
"I don't know when the decision is likely to be made but it is a judgment that must be balanced," he added.
The former two-time Olympic 1500m champion explained that he "would of course like the stadiums to be open to the public", while specifying that "the most important thing is to have the athletes at the Games."
The organizing committee for the Tokyo Olympics, postponed from 2020 to 2021 (July 23-August 8) due to the coronavirus pandemic, said two weeks ago that it planned to rule on the issue of foreign spectators before the end of the month, probably before the start of the national Olympic torch relay, on March 25, scheduled without an audience.
It also plans to make a decision in April on the maximum capacity of stadiums in the context of Covid-19.
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