Olympic Committee Has No Right to Blame Africa For Its Postponement Decision
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has no excuse for blaming Africa for the Olympics postponement. | Source: Denis Balibouse/Keystone via AP/pool
- IOC president Thomas Bach is blaming Africa for his decision to postpone the Olympic games amid the coronavirus pandemic.
- Africa is by far the least affected continent on earth, outside of Antarctica.
- It’s time to stop freaking out about Africa and give its nations props for handling the crisis so far.
Historically known for famine, poverty, and infectious disease, Africa has a bad reputation. And IOC President Thomas Bach dealt the continent another blow by blaming it for his decision to postpone the 2020 Olympics.
Bach’s remarks are bizarre. The Olympics will be held in Tokyo, not in Africa. And although Africa’s coronavirus cases are steadily rising, the continent is still by far one of the least affected regions on earth.
Africa has handled the outbreak relatively well so far, which makes Bach’s comments all the more baffling.
The Olympics are Officially Postponed
On Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and IOC President Thomas Bach postponed the Tokyo Olympic games (which were due to start on July 24) until no later than the summer of 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
This move comes after significant pressure from the United States, Canada, and Australia.
This decision should come as no surprise. However, Bach’s justification for postponing the Olympics will leave some scratching their heads.
“It (the outbreak in Africa) is a very dramatic development which will not only affect Africa but will affect the entire world”
According to CNBC , the coronavirus outbreak in Africa is the main factor that led to Bach’s decision to cancel the games.
But does this make any sense compared to the actual data?
How Bad is the Coronavirus Outbreak in Africa?
According to data from John Hopkins, sub-Saharan Africa is by far the least coronavirus-infected region on earth. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation has 46 confirmed infections and Ethiopia, the continent’s second-most populous country has … drumroll… 12 confirmed cases .
Stop the presses! Twelve whole cases?
Granted, Egypt and South Africa have reported more significant coronavirus spread with 442 cases and 709 cases , respectively. But these are also the continent’s wealthiest countries that are best equipped to handle the outbreak.
These numbers pale in comparison to the United States, which reports over 60,000 cases and Japan (the host country), which reports 1,193 infections. Meanwhile, Bach’s home country, Germany, reports 35,000 infections. That’s more than every country in Africa combined.
It’s Time to Stop Freaking Out About Africa
Bach seems to see Africa as a hopeless wasteland that will engulf the civilized world in a sea of coronavirus. But coronavirus has already engulfed his home continent while it’s still relatively contained in Africa.
African countries have also taken substantial steps to combat the disease . They’ve banned international flights from North America, Europe, and Asia. They’ve locked down entire cities and closed borders. Africa’s coronavirus response has been disproportionately strong compared to the actual number of cases reported on the continent.
Malawi, a small, impoverished country in Southern Africa, has already declared a state of disaster, closed schools, and banned public gatherings despite having zero confirmed coronavirus cases.
It’s time for everyone to stop freaking out about Africa. No one knows what the situation will look like a few months. But Bach’s decision to throw Africa under the bus was inappropriate and mean-spirited, whether he meant it that way or not.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
