The outbreak of the new coronavirus pneumonia continues to spread worldwide, with Tokyo`s 2020 Olympic Games postponed by a yea
The Tokyo Olympics were scheduled for July 24 to August 9. IOC 24 confirmed that the new date will be "no later than the summer of 2021".
Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a conference call with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach to discuss the Tokyo Olympics schedule. He then told journalist that 100% of Bach agreed with Japan`s proposal to delay the Tokyo Olympics by one year.
The Tokyo Paralympic Games will also be extended to 2021.
The Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee (BOCOG) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a joint statement saying that the spread of the virus was "unprecedented and unpredictable, and that the epidemic situation around the world had deteriorated. "
The statement said that more than 375,000 confirmed cases have been diagnosed globally and that "every hour" continues to grow. Based on information provided by the World Health Organization on the 23rd, the IOC and the Prime Minister of Japan decided that the Tokyo Olympic Games "must be rescheduled after 2020 but no later than the summer of 2021 to ensure the health of athletes, all Olympic participants and the international community ".
First time in history
The modern Olympics, which lasted 124 years, were cancelled, but postponed for the first time.
In the First and Second World War, the Olympic Games of 1916,1940 and 1944 were forced to be cancelled. The original venue for the 1940 Olympic Games was Tokyo.
During the Cold War, the 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics were boycott..
The Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee and theCOG) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have stated that the Tokyo Olympic Games will remain a "beacon of hope" and the Olympic torch will be a "dawn of hope ".
The two sides decided that the Olympic flame will remain in Japan, the postponed Olympic Games, Paralympic Games will still retain the name "Tokyo 2020".
Analysis: the unprecedented challenge of the Olympics
The British Broadcasting Corporation Sports Editor-in-Chief Ron (Dan Roan):
Can be said to be the sports world peace era made the most important decision.
The impact is enormous. Japan, hit hard, will be forced to invest heavily.
Business contracts must be renegotiated, venues rearranged, busy events rescheduled, and the international olympic committee, sports union 、 media, sponsors and a range of other related industries will have to wait another year to reap the financial benefits of the olympics.
For the first time, the Olympics have experienced numerous challenges, from terror to boycott,, from war to drugs.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will be held from 24 July to 9 August
The cost is enormous
The International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Organizing Committee have not taken the cancellation of the Games into account, but even if it is only postponed, it will still have a significant impact.
IOC Chairman Bach said in a previous letter to athletes that & quot; we are in trouble & quot;, the postponement would be an extremely complex challenge & quot;, the cancellation would destroy the Olympic dream of 11,000 athletes & quot;.
Some of Tokyo`s most important venues may not be available once they are postponed, says Bach, and as many as 33 Olympic events will each have to adjust their schedule for the next year – just a few of quot; more challenges & quot;..
Variations
Canada was the first country to announce that it would not send a team to the Olympics by 2020
On the 23rd, Canada announced that even if the Tokyo Olympics were held as scheduled, it would not send a team to participate, and Canada became the first country to announce its withdrawal following the new coronavirus outbreak.
Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said for the first time that he did not rule out the possibility of an extension of the Tokyo Olympics.
At the same time, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will decide within four weeks whether the Tokyo Olympics, originally scheduled to open on July 24, will be postponed.
For the first time, the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government have publicly indicated that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games may be postponed.
The Australian delegation also said that the Tokyo Olympics & quot; clearly & quot; could not proceed as scheduled, and the team had instructed athletes to prepare for the 2021 Olympics.
The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committee said that after consulting athletes, sports organizations and Canadian government, they made & quot; the tough decision & quot;..
The country also & quot; an urgent appeal & quot; the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, and the World Health Organization (WHO) to extend the Tokyo Olympics for one year.
& quot; while we recognize that delays are bound to cause a lot of problems, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the international community, the statement of the Canadian delegation said. quot;&
Later, the Canadian delegation officially posted a post on the Twitter saying :& quot; postpone today and conquer tomorrow. quot;&
Abe`s Change
The epidemic has continued for weeks, and while there have been questions about whether the Tokyo Games will be held as scheduled and calls for an extension, Japanese officials have insisted the Games will be held as planned.
But prime minister shinzo abe admitted for the first time in monday (march 23), admitted for the first time that the 2020 tokyo olympics might have to be postponed.
& quot; if it becomes difficult to hold the Olympics in its entirety, the postponement will be inevitable because we believe the safety of athletes is paramount ,& quot; Abe said.
Still, he insisted that the Olympics would not be cancelled.
On Sunday (March 22), the IOC said it had set itself a four-week deadline for deciding on arrangements for the 2020 Olympics.
The IOC statement states that its executive committee has & quot; launched the next step in IOC situational planning & quot;..
The delay will be one possibility in the planning, as well as & quot; downsizing & quot;, but IOC insists that the cancellation of the Olympics & quot; will not solve any problems or help anyone & quot;.
This latest development is a major shift in the IOC position —— just five days ago, IOC said it was & quot; fully investing & quot; getting the 2020 Tokyo Olympics organized as planned.
IOC also said the recent sharp rise in new coronavirus cases and outbreaks in several countries on several continents made the Executive Committee feel that further planning was needed.
Thomas Bach (Thomas Bach), president of the International Olympic Committee, said in a letter to the athletes :& quot; life is above all, including the holding of the Games. quot;&
quot; at the end of this dark road, we are moving forward together, not knowing how long it will be, and the end of this passage will be the light of the Olympic flame. quot;&
In unison
On the 23rd, Australia directed its athletes to prepare for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Northern Hemisphere in the summer of 2021.
& quot; Games are clearly unlikely to be held in July ,& quot; Australian Delegation Head Ian Chesterman (Ian Chesterman) said.
Sir Robertson (Sir Hugh Robertson), president of the British Olympic Association (BOA), welcomed the IOC Executive Board`s decision to review the arrangements for the Games and urged IOC" to take a decision as soon as possible for athletes facing significant uncertainty & quot;.
On Sunday, IAAF Chairman Sebastian Ko (Sebastian Coe) wrote to Bach that hosting the Olympics in July & quot; was neither feasible nor desirable & quot;..
The American Athletics Association (USA Track and Field) and the Athletes Organization Global Athletes (Global Athlete) also called for an extension of the Games.
The head of the group, British cyclist Callum Skinner (Callum Skinner), said :& quot; as the global epidemic worsens and more community restrictions begin to apply, I think it`s time to make this decision. quot;&
