Coronavirus: Canada and Australia become first nations to pull out of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

Cycling Canada: Women's team pursuit squad 2019
Cycling Canada: Women's team pursuit squad 2019 (Image credit: Getty Images)

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) announced Sunday evening that they will not send athletes to compete at the Olympic Games scheduled to be held from July 24 to August 9 in Tokyo. Canada is the first nation to pull out of the event amid concerns and risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic. 

Following the announcement by the COC and CPC, Australia's chef de mission, Ian Chesterman, also urged the ICO postpone the Games until 2021. He also told his country's athletes to start preparing for the event to be held next year.

Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.