Sebastian Coe the president of the World Athletics believed Spring Olympics will not be ideal for athletics as most athetes rarely peak around that time.
“I wouldn’t disagree with that,” he said, when it was put to him that athletes rarely find their best form at that time of year.
Reacting to thursday teleconference between IOC and NOCs in which IOC president Thomas Bach said no dates beyond the summer of 2021 had been ruled out ( leaving open the possibility of a ‘cherry blossom Olympics’ next spring). Coe said the spirit of Thursday’s meeting as it was relayed to him was one of co-operation and flexibility, but he did accept that peaking in April and May was difficult for an athlete.
“All the sports made pretty clear that they had particular challenges around particular times of the year, but I think the one overwhelming view around the table was ‘look, we’re probably not going to get a solution which meets with the approval of every sport, but there does have to be an element of flexibility’.
“I’m rather inclined to let the IOC get on with that deep dive (of speaking to sports on an individual basis). I think there is a recognition that the decision needs to be made as quickly as possible, because the athletes and the federations will always be seeking clarity.”
“At this stage it’s fair to say nothing is on the table, nothing is off the table,” he said.
“But clearly it is an advantage in athletics not to have an Olympics and a World Championships in the same year,” he added.
