Tokyo 2020 Officially Postponed

It’s official and Tokyo 2020 will be postponed to 2021! While it’s sad, it is the right decision in these unprecedented times! “The goal posts haven’t disappeared – just shifted.”
“In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the World Health Organization (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 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.”
 

See the full statement below here: https://www.olympic.org/news/joint-statement-from-the-international-olympic-committee-and-the-tokyo-2020-organising-committee

See IOC President address to athletes here:
AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has welcomed the decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Japanese Government and the Tokyo Olympic Games Organising Committee (TOCOG) to postpone the Tokyo Olympic Games until next year.
AOC CEO Matt Carroll says it’s a challenging moment in history during tragic times globally, but athletes and sports now have absolute clarity that enables them to focus on a Games in 2021.
“As President Bach has noted, “Human lives take precedence over everything, including the staging of the Games.”
PARALYMPICS
Following the decision to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons gave the following reaction:

“Postponing the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games as a result of the global COVID-19 outbreak is absolutely the right thing to do.   The health and well-being of human life must always be our number one priority and staging a sport event of any kind during this pandemic is simply not possible.

“Sport is not the most important thing right now, preserving human life is. It is essential therefore that all steps are taken to try and limit the spread of this disease.

“The COVID-19 outbreak is now impacting nearly every country in the world and the number of known cases has increased almost five times over in the last 10 days to 375,000.

“At a time when many major communities around the world are in lockdown, with workplaces and shops closed and people urged not to leave their own homes, continuing to pursue the dream of the Tokyo 2020 Games happening this year does not make sense; postponement is the only logical option.

“By taking this decision now, everyone involved in the Paralympic Movement, including all Para athletes, can fully focus on their own health and well-being and staying safe during this unprecedented and difficult time.

“When the Paralympic Games do happen in Tokyo next year, they will be a spectacular global celebration of humanity coming together again as one. The Paralympic Movement is based on people overcoming adversity, and this is what we will do next year.”

PARALYMPICS AUSTRALIA

Paralympics Australia has joined the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in applauding the decision overnight (24 March) to postpone the Tokyo Games.

Paralympics Australia’s Chief Executive, Lynne Anderson, said: “Paralympics Australia is ready to react to this decision and continue to ensure we leave no stone unturned to provide an optimal performance environment for our athletes and sports for a Tokyo Games.

Chef de Mission of the Australian Paralympic Team, Kate McLoughlin, said: “Our campaign slogan ‘Ready Set Tokyo’ has a new name today, ‘Ready Reset Tokyo’.

“While today’s postponement of the Games does present a diverse range of challenges for athletes, coaches, support staff and PA [Paralympics Australia] staff, the Australian Paralympic Team will be given every opportunity to succeed in Tokyo. The goal hasn’t changed, just the timing.

“We will be working closely with all our sports and sporting partners in light of the new decision, with a focus on open communication and support over the coming weeks and months. Our main message is to stay safe, keep well and look after each other, and we will be doing our best to support you during this hugely difficult period that we’re all in together.”

See statement here: https://www.paralympic.org.au/2020/03/paralympics-australia-applaud-decision-to-postpone-tokyo-games/

INTERNATIONAL CANOE FEDERATION

The International Canoe Federation has also welcomed the decision of the International Olympic Committee, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and the Japanese Government to postpone this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The ICF said while it was a tough decision to make for all involved, it was the right decision and the best outcome for the athletes.

See statement here: https://www.canoeicf.com/news/icf-endorses-decision-postpone-tokyo-2020

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