USAS Statement Regarding 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games Postponement and Olympic Qualified Athletes

[USA Shooting]

USAS Statement Regarding 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games Postponement and Olympic Qualified Athletes
Colorado Springs, Colorado
USA Shooting acknowledges that the COVID-19 situation is changing by the minute and we are adapting our plans accordingly. Based on the official statement from the IOC, the Tokyo Olympic Games are postponed until 2021.

We will continue to build our plans around a successful 2021 campaign. This includes reevaluating all of our 2020 events and then looking at 2021 events. USAS will distribute this information as soon as event details are confirmed.

Now more than ever, we must remain flexible. We are grateful for a community who understands the importance of agile thinking. This is the time and space we live in. Training does not stop; the mission stays the same.

USA Shooting Interim CEO Bob Gambardella & Board Chairman Chad Whittenburg wish to make the following statements regarding the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics:

We understand that the IOC and Organizing Committee's decision to postpone the 2020 Olympic Games was a difficult one to make. We agree with the statement released by the IOC, "The decision was made, "to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.”

Our priorities in the coming days will be to communicate with our athletes and work with our partner organizations to understand the path from here to the Tokyo games next year. We acknowledge that many questions remain unanswered and that the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting all members of our organization, not just the Olympic Team.

Like most of our athletes, we view preparation of the Olympic Games as a multi-year endeavor. We promise to continue our support of our athletes and coaches, as we now refocus on preparing our team to represent our country in 2021 and beyond.

The USAS Board and The Interim CEO, with support of the USAS Athlete Advisory Committee, agree that under this 2021 postponement scenario, those athletes who have qualified thus far for the Olympic Team will remain the Olympic Qualified Athletes that we will submit to the USOPC for approval.

We are confident that our Coaching Staff and High-Performance Team will ensure that these athletes continue to train and showcase the world-class skills that earned them Olympic Qualifying berths.

Please understand that this is the position of USA Shooting regarding our Olympic Qualified Team. We must remain compliant with ISSF, IOC, and USOPC guidance that is still forthcoming.

This situation is fluid. We will continue to update our athletes, coaches, and community as we receive information.