The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 have been postponed, the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee announced on Tuesday (24 March).
Originally scheduled to be held from 24 July-9 August 2020, the Games have been moved due to the developing global situation in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A joint IOC-Tokyo Organising Committee statement said the Games would be moved to next year.
“In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.”
The statement added:
“The leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present. Therefore, it was agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in Japan. It was also agreed that the Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.”
Speaking outside his official residence, Japanese prime minister Abe Shinzo said: “Together with Tokyo 2020 President Mori Yoshiro and Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko, we held a conference call with IOC President Thomas Bach.
“I proposed postponing the Games for around a year. President Bach said he agreed 100 per cent.
“Given the situation of the pandemic we agreed it would be difficult to hold the Games inside (this) year which is why we decided to postpone for around a year.”
PM’s Office of Japan
After his telephone talks with IOC President Bach, PM Abe spoke to the press and explained that the two have agreed that the Tokyo Olympic Games would not be cancelled, and the games will be held by the summer of 2021.
Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee president Mori said: “We agreed that the safety, security of the athletes and spectators are paramount.
“From this point, and given the current situation around the world which is steadily worsening, we also agreed that it has become impossible to organise the Games this July as originally scheduled – or at any other time this year, leaving us no choice but to postpone.
“The IOC, Tokyo 2020, the Japanese and Tokyo metropolitan governments as well as other relevant institutions have agreed to organise the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games by the summer of 2021 at the latest.”
He added that the Olympic Torch Relay would be suspended, but the Olympic flame will remain in Fukushima, on the suggestion of the prime minister.
By ZK Goh and Shintaro Kano – Olympic Channel
