Canada Announces They Won't Send Athletes to Tokyo Olympics Unless Event is Delayed in Groundbreaking Statement

In much the same way the Duke Blue Devils forced the issue with regards to March Madness a few weeks back, Canada has taken a powerful first step in pushing the IOC to make a devastating decision regarding the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Still set to take place beginning on July 24, the Committee gave themselves a one-month window on Sunday to determine decisive action. After that month, the games could become the latest and most high-profile sporting victim of the coronavirus pandemic.

Canada threw the first stone on Sunday, however, preemptively pulling their nation from the event, unless the IOC agrees to delay the festivities.

Surely, they won't be the final nation to make such a declaration.

Canada's winter Olympians are generally more vaunted than their summer competitors, but with a young class of Canadian ballers like RJ Barrett and Andrew Wiggins hitting the hardwood in the basketball event, hopes were high for their medaling chances.

Now, those plans have been derailed, unless the IOC holds its collective nose and makes the right call here.

These are entirely unprecedented circumstances for the committee, but it feels particularly foolish to hold this type of event as-scheduled. Canada's nudge might change everything, one-month timeline or not.