Guinea, Which Declared Non-Participation in Tokyo Olympics, Reverses Position in One Day

Olympic rings sculpture installed in downtown Tokyo.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] Guinea, a West African country that had declared its withdrawal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, reversed its position within a day.

Major foreign media including the AP reported on the 23rd (Korean time) that "Guinea issued a statement completely opposite to its declaration of withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics just one day earlier."

On the same day, Guinea's Minister of Sports, Sainoussi Bantama Sow, stated, "The Guinean government has decided to participate in the Tokyo Olympics based on the health authorities' assessment that 'the health of the athletes can be protected,'" adding, "We are pleased that the athletes can compete in the 32nd Olympic Games."

The minister had sent a letter to the Guinea Olympic Committee the previous day saying, "The Guinean government judged that the athletes could be at risk due to the spread of COVID-19," and "Regrettably, we are canceling participation in the Tokyo Olympics."

Five Guinean athletes who secured spots for the Tokyo Olympics?Fatoumata Yarie Kamara (wrestling), Mamadou Samba Bah (judo), Fatoumata Lamrana Toure, Mamadou Tahiru Bah (both swimming), and Assata Din Conte (athletics)?are scheduled to depart for Tokyo soon.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.