Nigeria withdraws for Youth Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed the withdrawal of Nigeria from the Youth Olympics, which started in the Chinese city of Nanjing on Saturday, as four African nations battle the worst outbreak of the Ebola virus in decades.

The decision was confirmed by IOC’s President Thomas Bach in Nanjing.

“We feel sad for the athletes as it will be extremely difficult for them,” Bach said of the Nigerians. “They already felt the excitement of living in the Village and now they have to leave—that’s a very difficult task.”