TORONTO, Ont. (March 23, 2020) — The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced last
night a decision to not send Canadian teams to the Olympic and
Paralympic Games in the summer of 2020. The COC and CPC are calling on
the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic
Committee (IPC) and the World Health Organization
(WHO) to postpone the Games for one year.
Earlier on Sunday, the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that
the IOC will step up its scenario-planning for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic
Games. These scenarios relate to modifying existing operational plans
for the Games to go ahead on 24 July 2020, and also for changes to the
start date of the Games.
“Canada Basketball supports the decision made last night by the Canadian
Olympic Committee,” said Glen Grunwald, President & CEO of Canada
Basketball. “Our athletes are considered by many to be role models and
to put them in an unfair position to ask them
to continue training and preparing for the Games sends the wrong
message to all Canadians. Basketball, and sport in general, has an
ability to bring people together and when it is safe to do so, we will
use the power of our game to help heal our communities
from coast-to-coast-to-coast.”
Canada Basketball and Friends of Victoria Basketball remain committed to
hosting the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria when details
related to the timing of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have been
confirmed. When tournament details are finalized,
Friends of Victoria Basketball will provide ticket holders with options
for refunds, if necessary.
Canada Basketball will continue discussions with the International
Basketball Federation (FIBA) as it relates to the likely postponement of
the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria, British Columbia,
originally scheduled to take place from June 23-28,
2020. However, the tournament will only be held at a time when the
health and safety of all athletes, coaches, officials, support staff,
volunteers and spectators can be ensured.
At this time, there is no further information available regarding the
tournament and to speculate on potential changes at this point would be
counterproductive.
“First and foremost, the health and safety of our communities across the
Capital Region is paramount to everyone involved with Friends of
Victoria Basketball,” said Clint Hamilton, Chair, Friends of Victoria
Basketball. “We remain in daily contact with Canada
Basketball and will continue to provide regular updates to ticket
holders and partners as new information comes to light. When we began
planning to bring the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament to Victoria, we
did so to bring a world-class basketball tournament
to our region and to unify our community in so doing, and that remains
our goal today.”
Friends of Victoria Basketball, a not-for-profit corporation, is the
local organizing committee responsible for the planning and delivery of
the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and related celebrations. In
addition to delivering a world-class international
event, the Friends of Victoria Basketball will be working to ensure
that this exciting opportunity also generates tangible legacies in
Victoria and across the Capital Region in the form of sport development,
social, cultural, economic and community development
enhancements.
In a related development, The Northern Showcase, an exhibition game
scheduled for June 12 in Hamilton pitting the Canadian Senior Men’s
National Team against a Canadian Elite Basketball League Select team has
been postponed. A make-up date will be determined
at a future time.
Developments in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continue to change
regularly and Canada Basketball will remain in contact with and follow
the directions of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and World
Health Organization (WHO) to ensure we are aware
of, and aligned with, appropriate recommendations and requirements.
Canada Basketball continues to encourage everyone to practice social
distancing to limit public interactions and do our collective part in
slowing the impending spread of the virus and flatten the curve.
Recommendations for protecting yourself and preventing
spread of this illness also include frequent hand washing and covering
both your nose and mouth when coughing.
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For more information, contact:
Matt Walker, mwalker@basketball.ca