Jason Day, currently the best golfer in the world according to the ranking, joins the list of elite athletes who have decided not to attend the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next August due to the threat of Zika, especially for pregnant women.
In a statement, the Australian announced that he will not compete in the Rio Games because of “fear of possible Zika transmission and the potential risks it may cause to my wife in future pregnancies and future members of our family.”
“I have always put my family first in my life. Medical experts have confirmed that competing in Rio may carry health risks for me and my family. Ellie, my wife, and I have been blessed with two wonderful, healthy children and our plan is to have more,” said the world number one.
“It has always been a big goal to compete in the Games to defend my country, but playing golf cannot come before the safety of the family. I don’t want to take that risk,” said Day, who has already informed Australian team manager Ian Baker Finch and Australian golf manager Stephen Pitt of his “difficult decision”.
But Day was not the only athlete to change his decision due to the virus. A little less than a week ago another illustrious golfer, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, ranked fourth in the world, also announced that he would not participate in Rio for the same reason.
In addition, fellow golfers Marc Leishman and Vijay Singh announced that they will not participate in the Rio Olympics, citing Zika as the main reason. Other players such as Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen have mentioned it as one of many factors, including violence and water pollution.
Celebrities from other sports have expressed their doubts about whether or not they will go to Rio, among them basketball player Pau Gasol, who has said he is considering “not going to Rio because of Zika”. The Spanish center of the Chicago Bulls expressed his wish that “the committees and international health organizations inform about the real situation in Brazil so that athletes can make their decisions with all the consequences”.
Another Spaniard, swimmer Mireia Belmonte, expressed her concern in a recent interview: “If Zika affects the rest of my life, I will consider going to Rio”. “I’m up to date with what’s going on, there’s still time before the Games, but it’s an important issue to deal with, we have to be sure we’re going safely, without risk of contagion.”
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