Following months of speculation, the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo has ultimately been pushed back.
The coronavirus pandemic has dealt a decisive blow against the 2020 Olympics. The sport event was, of course, originally planned for this summer. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has now agreed on a new set of dates for the games of the XXXII Olympiad. So, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will now be celebrated from July 23 to August 8, 2021. The committee also agreed on new dates for the Paralympic Games: August 24 until September 5, 2021.
“I want to thank the International Federations for their unanimous support and the Continental Associations of National Olympic Committees for the great partnership and their support in the consultation process over the last few days. I would also like to thank the IOC Athletes’ Commission, with whom we have been in constant contact. With this announcement, I am confident that, working together with the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Government and all our stakeholders, we can master this unprecedented challenge,” explained Thomas Bach, president of the IOC. “Humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be a light at the end of this tunnel.”
The IOC’s decision was taken based on three main considerations: To protect the health of the athletes and everyone involved while supporting the containment of the COVID-19 virus; to safeguard the interests of the athletes and of Olympic sport; and finally the global international sports calendar. More importantly, these new dates will give health authorities and everyone involved in the organization of the Games the maximum time to deal with the constantly changing landscape and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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