International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach expressed his regard to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commitment and contribution in containing coronavirus and for promoting the cause of Olympics to make it a symbol of human resilience.
In a letter to Modi, unveiled by Kiren Rijiju on Twitter, Bach said: "Please accept my sincere thanks for the support you have given to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Expressed in the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit Statement, commending the International Olympic Committee for contributing to the containment of the COVID-19 virus."
"With this we are, like you in your statement, confident that the Olympic Games 2020 will be a symbol of human resilience," he added.
"Your Excellency, please allow me to thank you very much for your continuing support. Wishing you and all the people of India good health, and all the best in your efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus."
The PM, on March 24 had announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus which has claimed over 45,000 lives worldwide.
Last week, the IOC and Japanese organizers postponed the Olympics until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The opening ceremony will take place on July 23, 2021 - almost exactly one year after the games were due to start this year.
The coronavirus cases have risen in the last 4 days, with health ministry confirming 1,834 positive cases so far in India. The number of cases of the novel coronavirus across the globe is racing towards the 1 million- mark as the global death toll rises above 45,000.
