Tokyo: Guinea decided against sending any of their athletes to Tokyo Olympics, a day before the opening ceremony, over COVID-19 fears. Earlier in April, North Korea announced that it would not compete at the Tokyo Olympics to ‘protect’ its athletes from coronavirus.
The African nation thus became the second country to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics due to COVID-19. “Due to the rise in cases of Covid-19 variants, the government, out of concern for the health of the Guinean athletes, has regretfully decided to cancel their participation,” Minister of Sport Sanoussy Bantama Sow said in a statement.
The delegation which is yet to travel was to have five athletes –Fatoumata Yarie Camara (freestyle wrestling), Mamadou Samba Bah (judo), Fatoumata Lamarana Toure and Mamadou Tahirou Bah (swimming) and Aissata Deen Conte (women’s 100m).
However, according to Guinean media, the pullout is primarily because of financial matters. Sources reported that the Guinean ministry cannot bear the costs required to go to Tokyo for the Olympics. Guinea has never won a medal in 11 appearances at the Olympics so far.
