‘Playing in front of empty stadiums doesn’t sit right with me,’ says Nick Kyrgios after pulling out of Olympics

Olympics
Nick Kyrgios with a towel

Nick Kyrgios won’t compete at the Tokyo Olympics as the Australian has pulled out of the Games after it was confirmed that fans won’t be allowed to attend the majority of events.

Tokyo has been placed under a statement of emergency due to the surge in coronavirus cases and, as a result, Olympic events at all venues in and around the city will be staged behind closed doors. Stadiums in Fukushima, Miyagi, and Shizuoka will be allowed 50 per cent capacities, or up to 10,000 people.

Kyrgios, who also missed the 2016 Rio Games, has decided not to take part in the Olympics and will use the time off to recover from the abdominal injury he picked up at Wimbledon.

“I just want to let you know that I have decided to withdraw from the Olympics,” he wrote on social media. “It’s a decision I didn’t make lightly. It’s been my dream to represent Australia at the Olympics and I know I may never get that opportunity again.

“But I also know myself. The thought of playing in front of empty stadiums just doesn’t sit right with me. It never has.

“I also wouldn’t want to take an opportunity away from a healthy Aussie athlete ready to represent the country.

“I will also take all the time I need to get my body right.

“Good luck to all the Aussies competing and I’ll see you back on the court real soon.”

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Nick Kyrgios

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