Surfing Australia Supports The AOC's Position On The 2020 To...

CASUARINA/NSW (Tuesday 24th March 2020): In these unprecedented and challenging times, Surfing Australia wholeheartedly supports the AOC position that it is untenable to assemble an Australian Olympic Team in July, for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Surfing Australia Chair Layne Beachley says: “Given the current global circumstances, we support the recent decision made by the AOC, and appreciate they’ve put the health and wellbeing of our athletes, coaches, families, support staff, and community first. We also respect the IOC process, in stating more time is needed to work through the enormous amount of complexities, which will lead to further clarity about a postponement date. For this, we’re grateful for the mutual intent shared and the tireless work from all the key stakeholders involved. Our focus will be to work closely with and support the International Surfing Association in considering solutions if required.”

Surfing Australia National High Performance Director Kim Crane says: “In talking with our provisionally qualified Olympic athletes, staff and wider surfing community, there’s genuine respect, appreciation and mindfulness of the scale and impact of this global crisis, and collectively we recognise this decision transcends sport. Whilst it is bitterly disappointing, it is absolutely the right decision. When the time’s right, we’ll be flexible, adaptable, creative and innovative, bouncing back ready to readjust our plans and preparation.”

Surfing’s Australian Olympic Team Head Coach Bede Durbidge says: “Our efforts are focused on making sure the athletes are supported, whilst processing these fast-moving changes in both their Olympic and World Surf League environments. This is a tough time for everyone in our community and we must all lean in and support each other. Across our wider team, the High Performance Program staff will continue to lead and work hard to play their role in slowing down the COVID-19 virus by shutting down and adjusting all activity across the high performance network; making sure our people are protected, supported and connected in their home environments."

FULL AOC PRESS RELEASE:

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) says Australian athletes should prepare for a Tokyo Olympic Games in the northern summer of 2021, following the IOC’s announcement of a potential postponement of this year’s Games and changes in public health measures in Australia and across the globe.

The AOC believes our athletes now need to prioritise their own health and of those around them, and to be able to return to their families, in discussion with their National Federations.

The AOC held an Executive Board meeting via teleconference this morning and unanimously agreed that an Australian Team could not be assembled in the changing circumstances at home and abroad.

AOC Chief Executive Matt Carroll says athletes have needed certainty - they wanted to do the right thing for themselves, their families and the world community.

“We have athletes based overseas, training at central locations around Australia as teams and managing their own programs. With travel and other restrictions, this becomes an untenable situation. 

“The IOC had adopted the key principles of putting athlete health first and ensuring it acted in their best interests and the interests of sport. This decision reflects those principles.

 “We are now in a position where we can plan with greater certainty.”

“I would like to thank AOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Steve Hooker for his valuable contribution to discussions today and over the last week, representing the views of our athletes,” Mr Carroll said.

Australian Team Chef de Mission for Tokyo Ian Chesterman says he has communicated to athletes after receiving feedback from athletes from more than 25 sports last week.

“It’s clear the Games can’t be held in July. Our athletes have been magnificent in their positive attitude to training and preparing, but the stress and uncertainty has been extremely challenging for them. 

“They have also shouldered the burden of concern for their peers around the world. That has been a consistent message to me.”

“While there will still be much to work out as a result of this change, the timing will allow athletes from around the world to properly prepare with the hope the coronavirus crisis will be under control.

“We are aware that for many such a postponement will present a range of new issues. But when the world does come together at the Tokyo Olympic Games they can be a true celebration of sport and humanity.”

Mr Chesterman said there were numerous issues that flow from any postponement, from qualification through to logistics on the ground in Tokyo, but that these can be worked through in a timely way.

Mr Carroll says he will be communicating with National Federations around Australia today to work through the issues now the situation has become clearer.