'No intention' by any countries to pull out of Rio, Says Thomas Bach
The International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said he is confident confident that the athletes and the spectators will enjoy safe conditions in Rio de Janeiro.
The International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach says there is "no intention" by any countries to pull out of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro over concerns about the Zika virus. (US Women's National Soccer Team Goalkeeper Says She Could Skip 2016 Rio Olympics Due to Zika Virus)
Bach, speaking ahead of the opening ceremony of the Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer, says he has "full confidence" in the actions being undertaken by the Brazilian authorities and global health organizations to combat the outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus.
At the same time, Bach says "this does not exclude that we are taking the situation very seriously."
Bach says "we're also very confident that the athletes and the spectators will enjoy safe conditions in Rio de Janeiro."
Bach's comments echoed those of the IOC's medical director, Dr. Richard Budgett, who told The Associated Press on Thursday that "everything that can be done is being done" to contain Zika ahead of the games in August.