Guinea Reverses Decision To Pull Out Of Tokyo Olympics
Jul 22, 2021, 1:36 PM
Facinet Keita of the Guinea Olympic judo team carries his country's flag during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — The West African country of Guinea has reversed an earlier decision to pull out of the Olympics.
Guinea’s sports minister said Thursday the country will send a delegation of five athletes to the Tokyo Games.
The country had announced a day earlier that it would not participate in the Games, prompting national and international outcries.
Guinea had cited the coronavirus and its variants as the reason for its withdrawal.
UPDATE 1:15 PM: Guinea has reversed their earlier decision to pull out of the Olympics, allowing their delegation of five athletes to compete in Tokyo.
— KARE 11 (@kare11) July 22, 2021
Minister of Sports Sanoussy Bantama Sow said in a statement that Guinea had received “guarantees from the health authorities” that athletes would be protected.
