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Novak Djokovic: Cancelling the Olympics is unthinkable

Novak Djokovic reacts against Spanish Rafa Nadal during the ATP Tennis Open tournament at the Foro Italico
Image: World No 1 Novak Djokovic will play in Rio despite concerns over the Zika virus ahead of this summer's Olympics

Novak Djokovic admits he is concerned by the Zika virus but is planning to play at the Olympics and feels cancelling the Games would be "unthinkable".

More than 100 leading scientists signed an open letter to the World Health Organisation, saying it was unethical for the Olympics to go ahead in Rio amid the outbreak of the disease.

'Move Rio Olympics or stop it'
'Move Rio Olympics or stop it'

Zika outbreak leads health experts to call for Rio Olympic Games to be moved or stopped

The WHO is continuing to advise that Zika, which is linked to thousands of babies born with birth defects in Brazil, is not a reason to move or postpone the Games.

World No. 1 Djokovic said: "Somebody has passed me the information that a significant amount of scientists have come up with a statement that it's not safe.

"Honestly, I don't know what to think any more. But I need to get informed more so I can speak more in detail about it, because for the moment I'm planning to play the Olympics. Nothing is changing.

Municipal agents spray anti Zika mosquitos in Rio
Image: Municipal agents spray anti Zika mosquitos in Rio

"But let's see what happens. To even think to cancel the Olympic Games is unthinkable, honestly. I mean, many athletes and people already planned in advance and so many people already planned their trips and accommodation in Rio."

Serbian Djokovic, currently competing in the French Open, added: "Of course we have to have common sense that health is the most important for anybody that is there. But we should not only think about people coming to Rio. How about those people living there? Not talking about them too much.

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"So I think we have to look from different perspectives in order to make a right conclusion."

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