â China rebuffs WHOâs terms for further COVID-19 origins study
â Germany’s Merkel cites rising virus cases, urges vaccination
â Guinea pulls out of Tokyo Olympics, citing coronavirus
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HEREâS WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
CONAKRY, Guinea â The African country of Guinea has pulled out of the Olympics, citing the coronavirus.
The decision will keep five athletes from competing at the Tokyo Games. Minister of Sports Sanoussy Bantama Sow made the announcement in a letter Wednesday addressed to the president of the Guinean Olympic committee. He blamed the virus and its variants.
Guinean Olympic committee secretary general Ben Daouda Nassoko told The Associated Press only days before the statement that funds had just been released for the delegation to go to Tokyo. The five athletes impacted by the decision are a freestyle wrestler, swimmers, and a track and judo participant.