The Tokyo Olympics have been postponed due to the impact of the coronavirus. This is a rare event, usually seen only during times of war; however, the games are now rescheduled to take place in 2021.
The decision was announced on Tuesday by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. The Games were originally set to commence on July 24.
This postponement marks one of the last major sporting events of the year to be affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Despite the change in schedule, next year’s Games will still be recognized as Tokyo 2020. Additionally, the Olympic torch will continue to burn brightly in Fukushima.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the IOC and Tokyo 2020 organizing committee elaborated on the rationale behind the decision. They stressed that rescheduling the Games was necessary to protect the well-being of athletes, all involved in the event, and the global community.
Consultations with the World Health Organization took place on Tuesday to address concerns about the global spread of the coronavirus. It was determined that hosting the Olympic Games as scheduled could contribute to the rapid transmission of the pandemic.
The coronavirus outbreak has impacted over 390,000 individuals worldwide and led to 17,000 fatalities. In the past week, several countries advocated for the Games to be rescheduled. Sporting federations in the United States, including those for Swimming, Gymnastics, and Track and Field, voiced their support for a delay. Canada announced it would not send athletes to compete, with Australia following suit shortly after.
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