(ATR) Ebola concerns have led Nigeria to summon its team home from Nanjing.
IOC president Thomas Bach announced during his Saturday press conference that the West African country will not compete in the Youth Olympic Games on orders from its government.
The country is one of four – along with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea – in the grips of the current Ebola epidemic. The World Health Organization says 2,127 people have been infected and 1,145 lives have been lost.
"First of all, we feel really sad," said the IOC president. "We feel sad for the people in the four countries being concerned, and we feel sad for the athletes who may be affected by the Ebola disease and by its implications."
Bach was notified of the Nigerian team’s decision during his visit to the Youth Olympic Village on Friday. While touring the village, he made a stop in the dormitories housing Nigeria and Guinea.
The IOC president took care to point out that no country was banned from the event, and that the decisions made by Sierra Leone and Liberia to not attend were not the result of IOC edict.
"All of the national Olympic committees, all the teams, all over the world are welcome to this Youth Olympic Games," said Bach.
The Nigerian team has already arrived in Nanjing and is living in the Olympic Village. They will return home after participating in Saturday night’s Opening Ceremony.
It was learned on Friday that three athletes from afflicted countries had been barred from competing in combat and water sports. A Nigerian wrestler is known to be among those affected by the decision, along with two athletes from Guinea, a swimmer and a judoka. The IOC consulted with the World Health Organization before taking the step.
"Here in Nanjing and for the Youth Olympic Games, the task of the organizing committee and the IOC was to find the right balance between the safety of the athletes being present and the safety of the people of Nanjing and China."
Bach reiterated his promise that all affected teams will be invited back to the Youth Olympic Games host city at a later date "to enjoy a special competition … and to enjoy the hospitality of the people of Nanjing."
Nigeria won four medals at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, including two golds.
Written by Nick Devlinin Nanjing
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