In the wake of the Global emergency and the data provided by the WHO, the World Health Organization, the IOC President and Prime Minister of Japan have announced the postponement of the Olympic Games to be rescheduled for 2021.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and IOC president Thomas Bach officially conceded to the decision on Tuesday amidst increasing tensions and community pleas for transparency from athletes and regulating bodies stating that the health of the athletes and the International community is paramount
Despite the current circumstances, and the abrupt spread of the coronavirus also known as COVID-19, IOC representatives and emissaries of the organizing committee for the Tokyo 2020 asserted that the Olympics will not be implicated. They encouraged athletes to proceed with their daily routine as usual, as doubts about the games continued to evolve.
Also, they added that the Olympic flame will remain in Japan during the period of uncertainty, and the games even though it has been moved to 2021, will officially be called “Tokyo 2020”.
The opinion to delay the multi-billion-dollar game which was slated for July 24- August 9 will have a sweeping effect on the financial, legal, logistical and political status of the host country, Japan and beyond as international communities adapt to new routines
Meanwhile, the National Olympic Committee of Canada, Brazil, and Slovenia have flinched about bringing their athletes to Japan with the current situation in the world.
In a written letter to the U.S athletes, CEO, USOC Sarah Hirshland wrote that in other to maintain favorable and unbiased Olympic tournament, which is as important as the health of the athletes, working with governing bodies, international league, IPC, IOC, and athletes would ensure proper restructuring and selection of qualifiers so as assure that Tokyo 2020 Olympic games was only delayed and not canceled.
Having Commemorated the decision to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons asserted that the postponement was the only logical option considering the impact of coronavirus on the global economy. He, however, advised everyone included in the Paralympic games to solely pay attention to their well-being especially in this unprecedented period.
On a friendlier note, Japanese citizens have taken up their responsibility as hosts to buying up tickets as soon as they become accessible as they have accepted the fact that the Olympics games would be sport’s tremendous casualties of the coronavirus epidemic.
