The IOC was delayed in canceling the European boxing pre-Olympic and several participants tested positive for coronavirus

The Olympic world is going through a particular moment. It is that only on three occasions, and for reasons of force majeure, the Olympic Games had to be suspended. It was in Berlin 1916, Tokyo 1940 and London 1944, all because of the World Wars that struck the countries of the continents in charge of organizing the largest multidisciplinary sporting event in the world.

Now with the postponement of Tokyo 2020 due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the International Olympic Committee had to make a unique decision in peacetime for the Olympic movement.

Beyond the decision made by the IOC – promoted by the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, and in tune with the Organizing Committee of the next Olympic Games -, in the last hours, a news item was released that once again hit the entity chaired by Thomas Bach: two boxers and a coach of the Turkish boxing team who participated in the Olympic qualification that took place a few weeks ago in London, tested positive for coronavirus control.

The event, which took place in the Copper box from the English capital, and which was going to officiate as a qualifying event for Europe for Tokyo 2020, only lasted three days: It started last Saturday, March 14 and, after a few days of activity, the IOC had to suspend it to safeguard the safety of athletes, coaches and staff in charge of organizing the competition due to the possibility of contagion, which finally occurred.

Speaking to the international press, the president of the Turkish Boxing Federation was very critical of the International Olympic Committee. “While everyone was taking extreme measures to deal with the virus, I am puzzled that a working group from the IOC and the British government allowed the tournament to start despite the fact that many of us had concerns and almost all other sports had stopped. It was irresponsible and as a result, unfortunately three of our team have now tested positive, “he said. Eyup Gozgec.

The tournament, which featured around 350 fighters from 40 countries, was in charge of the IOC Boxing Task Force, an entity that took control of the Olympic discipline due to the internal conflicts that the International Boxing Association (AIBA) went through in the process leading up to the Olympic Games.

Through a statement, the International Olympic Committee reported that it suspended the championship to “Safeguarding the well-being of athletes, officials and all other participants is a priority. So the decision was made to suspend the event, amid mounting global travel restrictions and quarantine measures, to allow participants from more than 60 countries to adjust their travel plans and return home. ”.

At the time of cancellation of the tournament, which was left unfinished and a date should be set for its completion, since all the places at stake for Tokyo were not confirmed, alarming numbers were already recorded in the United Kingdom regarding the impact of the coronavirus in the region: 21 dead and more than 1,000 infected people with the virus COVID-19.

In this framework, it is valid to remember that in Africa, Asia and Oceania the pre-Olympic boxing competitions were completed, while the contest program for the American boxers – was going to take place at the Center for High Sports Performance, in Buenos Aires, From March 26 to April 3, he was suspended by the authorities that run the Argentine sport. The same happened with the world pre-Olympic, which was to be held in Paris, from May 13 to 20.