Rio 2016: Novak Djokovic concerned by Zika virus - but says cancelling Olympics would be 'unthinkable'

Djokovic is planning to play in the Olympics but ahas admitted his fear over health concerns surrounding the outbreak of the disease

Novak Djokovic has expressed concern at going to Rio for the Olympics due to the Zika virus (Getty)

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.

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 number one 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.

"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."


 Novak Djokovic beat Britain's Aljaz Bedene at the French Open on Saturday (Getty)
 (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

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.

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

PA