ABA supports decision to not send Canadian athletes to 2020 Olympics

The Alberta Basketball Association (ABA) supports decision announced on March 22 by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) announced to not send Canadian teams to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, the summer of 2020.  

This includes athletes that would have competed in the basketball and 3x3 events at the Olympic Games and wheelchair basketball events at the Paralympic Games.

The decision was made by the COC and CPC considering COVID-19 and associated risks, with respect to the safety and health of Canadian athletes, their families, and the broader Canadian community. The COC and CPC are calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to postpone the Games for one year. Read the full statement from the COC here.

This resonates profoundly within the Alberta basketball community. Edmonton serves as the home training base for the Canada Basketball senior women’s team, which had already qualified for the Tokyo Games. Alberta is also home to members of the national 3x3 and wheelchair basketball teams.

“The Alberta Basketball Association fully supports the stance taken by the COC and CPC,” ABA Executive Director Paul Sir says.

“With the concern globally over the COVID-19 virus, it’s important that the athletes’ health is taken into consideration. Beyond that, it’s important the athletes are given the opportuniy to train properly so they can be at their peak state of readiness in order to compete for gold when the Olympics do take place.

“It’s a credit to Canada to be a leader globally for making this stand. It’s important now for the IOC to listen to what people are saying around the world and make the decision to postpone the Games until the COVID-19 virus has been dealt with properly.”