Coronavirus outbreak in Africa prompted decision to postpone Olympics, IOC says
The Olympic rings are seen in front of Tokyo's iconic Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower at Odaiba Marine Park on January 20, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said Wednesday that a surge in coronavirus cases in Africa prompted the decision to postpone the world's biggest sporting event. Bach said the prospect of the virus spreading in Africa was a "very big worry," particularly given the myriad of challenges already faced on the continent, such as poverty and fragile healthcare systems. The outbreak constitutes a "very dramatic development which will not only affect Africa but will affect the entire world," he added. The IOC chief then called an emergency meeting of the IOC executive board on Sunday, which agreed to open discussions with Japan over postponement and scheduled a call for Tuesday.
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