Coronavirus Concerns Cause the 2020 Summer Olympics to be Postponed

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the International Olympic Committee has announced that the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo will now take place in 2021. This is the first Summer Olympics that will not take place in the scheduled four-year period since the 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled due to World War II.

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo conducted a conference call in which they voiced mutual concern about the coronavirus pandemic led to the decision to postpone the Olympic Games.

Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committeehttps://t.co/XNcaa4Gvx8

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) March 24, 2020

The World Health Organization reportedly played a role in both the Olympic committee and Japanese government’s decision consulting with them in which they informed them that this is an “accelerating” pandemic.

The IOC originally announced the Olympic Games were considering postponing the games but would not cancel them. In a survey the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to more than 4,000 American Olympics hopefuls, nearly 70% of respondents said they didn’t think the Games would be fair if held in July. Both Canada and Australia announced they would not take part in the games if they took place this year.

United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland wrote a letter to U.S. Olympic athletes saying,

“Despite the feeling of eventuality that so many of us have felt in the lead up to this moment — my heart breaks for you, your fellow athletes around the world, our friends at Tokyo 2020, the people of Japan, and all who are impacted by this global pandemic and the decision to postpone the Tokyo Games 2020.”

As a result of the postponing, organizers of the Olympics and other experts estimate this will result in a loss of anywhere between $12.6-$25 billion.

The 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony was originally set to begin July 24th.

Various Olympic athletes have taken to social media to show support for the Olympic committee’s decision and assure that they will be ready to compete next year.

All in all a very wise decision to postpone the Olympics until 2021. I look forward to come back to Japan to defend my Olympic title next year and look forward to witness a wonderful event. I wish everybody good health in these challenging times. pic.twitter.com/jrhsFEe545

— Eliud Kipchoge – EGH🇰🇪 (@EliudKipchoge) March 24, 2020

Tokyo, on se voit en 2021.
Nous avons un combat plus important à gagner avant 👊🏾

See you in 2021, Tokyo.
First, we have to win a huge fight 👊🏾#Tokyo2021 #ResterChezVous #StayAtHome pic.twitter.com/1tvO7ubu6G

— Teddy Riner (@teddyriner) March 24, 2020

See you in 2021 !
🤷🏻‍♂️🥇💥🇯🇵 #olympics #greatmemories #goldmedal #seeyou #2021 #stayhome #staysafe pic.twitter.com/WV4cM1nSBt

— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) March 24, 2020

The goal doesn’t change. Only the date. ❤️ #Tokyo2020 #Tokyo2021
📸: @PaulRaats pic.twitter.com/QoMJGJnh6K

— Chantalle Zijderveld PLY (@Chantalle_Z) March 24, 2020

We are a resilient group. This is just a hiccup in our journey.
We will be ready to go for #Tokyo2021
🇺🇸👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/xm1b9byWGI

— Delaney Spaulding (@DelaneyyLyn) March 24, 2020