Citing Pandemic Fears, North Korea Says It Won’t Attend Tokyo Olympics
By Scott Neuman
April 6, 2021
North Korea says it will skip the upcoming Summer Olympics in Tokyo, citing coronavirus concerns – a move that frustrates South Korea’s hopes that the games might revive stalled peace talks between the bitter rivals.
The decision to sit out the already delayed Tokyo Games means the North’s athletes will be a no-show at the Olympics for the first time since Pyongyang boycotted them in 1988, the year they were held in Seoul.
The North’s Olympic Committee “decided not to participate in the 32nd Olympic Games during the [March 25] general assembly to protect our athletes from the global health crisis situation related to the coronavirus as proposed by committee members,” according to a translation by South Korea’s Yonhap news service of the announcement on an official state-run website devoted to sports affairs in North Korea.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP
toggle caption Eugene Hoshiko/AP
A woman wearing a protective mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walks in front of he Olympic Rings on Tuesday in Tokyo. North Korea says it will not attend the games over COVID-19 fears. Eugene Hoshiko/AP
North Korea says it will skip the upcoming Summer Olympics in Tokyo, citing coronavirus concerns – a move that frustrates South Korea s hopes that the games might revive stalled peace talks between the bitter rivals.
The decision to sit out the already delayed Tokyo Games means the North s athletes will be a no-show at the Olympics for the first time since Pyongyang boycotted them in 1988, the year they were held in Seoul.
Seoul, South Korea
North Korea became the first country to drop out of the Tokyo Olympics because of coronavirus fears, a decision that underscores the challenges facing Japan as it struggles to stage the global sporting event amid a pandemic.
A website run by North Korea’s Sports Ministry said its national Olympic Committee during a meeting on March 25 decided not to participate in the Games to protect athletes from the “world public health crisis caused by COVID-19.”
The pandemic has already pushed back the Tokyo Games, which were originally scheduled for 2020, and organizers have scrambled to put in place preventive measures, such as banning international spectators, to ensure the safety of athletes and residents.
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North Korea Is First Country To Withdraw From Tokyo Olympics Over COVID-19 Fears
The decision underscores the challenges facing Japan as it struggles to stage a global sporting event amid the raging coronavirus pandemic.
KIM TONG-HYUNG
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea became the first country to drop out of the Tokyo Olympics because of coronavirus fears, a decision that underscores the challenges facing Japan as it struggles to stage a global sporting event amid a raging pandemic.
A website run by North Korea’s Sports Ministry said its national Olympic Committee during a meeting on March 25 decided not to participate in the Games to protect athletes from the “world public health crisis caused by COVID-19.”