When the Olympic flame was extinguished above the Maracanã Stadium in August 2016 the focus of the athletics family shifted to the lighting of a new flame four years later in Tokyo. Sunday night, that focus was put on hold with the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s joint decision to not participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer of 2020.
For the top Lion’s athletes, the reality that a four-year dream must, at least, be put on hold is certainly emotional. Two time Olympian Melissa Bishop-Nriagu told the Windsor Star, “I cried as soon as I read it, but Osi (Nriagu, her husband) and I took the night and this is so much bigger than what we’re doing right now.”
The consensus among the athletes we heard from was that it was the right decision. Three-time Paralympian Joshua Cassidy was proud of Canada taking the lead on the “best” decision. “I really appreciated the wording and intentions expressed in the release, as well as the COC Chef de Mission, Marnie McBean’s letter,” said Cassidy. “Canada took a strong lead. I believe the world will follow suit.”
The world has indeed followed suit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe announcing today the Games will indeed be postponed for one year. The decision taken by the COC and CPC in conjunction with the today’s announcement from the IOC certainly helps to put athletes’ minds at ease as they were torn between adhering to public health recommendations and trying to prepare to be their best in Tokyo.
“We didn’t know where we stood, if we had to continue training,” said Olympic finalist Farah Jacques to Radio-Canada about her situation prior to Sunday’s announcement. “The decision makes sense in that there was a risk to our health and safety.”
Bishop-Nriagu echoed her teammates sentiments, telling the Windsor Star “It’s not sports or Olympics, it’s life and death and it affects so many countries. I stand by the COC decision.”
Twice a member of Canada’s Olympic 4×100 metre relay team, Oluwasegun Makinde says that he’s supportive of the COC and its decision, “but, of course you train for four years for a special moment that only comes around for four years, so at that time, it’s tough to hear.”
Olympic shot putter Tim Nedow saw Sunday’s announcement as a ‘fait accompli’. “I kind of knew this was coming and there’s not much I can do. We’re all kind of in this together.”
With the wide swath of facility closures in the past two weeks, Nedow had been doing his best to adjust to a new reality. “When all the facilities shut down, it’s kind of hard to get out there and throw. My gym shut down too, like it should be, but luckily I have a little homemade gym right now and can get away with that,” said the Brockville native of his current training situation.
The recent rise in temperature had allowed the 2019 world finalist to get in some outdoor throwing, but Monday’s snowfall was a perfect example of how difficult that can be for this time of year in Ottawa.
“It’s a hard hit, but this is what we do, what we live for, everyday. Being our healthiest, best selves. This decision is in alignment with being our healthiest best selves,” said Joshua Cassidy of the current situation. “We take a breath, we move forward. Adapt. Be ready for what’s next. No matter when the Games are, no matter what each athlete has to deal with personally, now, or in the future… we always aim to be resilient and be ready to be our best.”