The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) said Tuesday it favors” a postponement” of the 2020 Tokyo Games to 2021.

In a message, POC president and Cavite Rep. Abraham Tolentino said:”I favor a postponement because the health and safety of everyone in sports—both in the Philippines and all over the world—is paramount in this Covid-19 pandemic.”

”A 2021 schedule is ideal enough,” added Tolentino.

The Philippines’ gold medal bet Carlos Yulo, a gymnastics world champion, is training in Japan. Pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena is in  a training center in Italy, where many COVID-19 deaths have been reported,

Yulo and Obiena have qualified for the Olympics followed by boxers Eumir Marcia and Iris Magno.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who won a silver medal four years ago in Rio de Janiero, has yet to qualify.

”It’s better to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympics rather than cancelation so as not to lose (Philippines) our chance for our first gold medal—or even more golds.”added Tolentino.

”A postponement would mean more time to train for those who have already qualified and for those who are still trying to qualify,” he added.

The Philippines has won three Olympic silver medals. They came from boxer Anthony Villanueva in 1964, Tokyo; boxer Mansueto Velasco, 1996,Atlanta and Diaz in 2016, Rio deJaniero.

The POC advises all athletes, coaches, officials and stakeholders to stay safe, stay at home and observe government and Health Department protocols, said Tolentino. DMS