Tokyo 2020 Olympic & Paralympic Games have been postponed. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told news agencies that he agreed with the International Olympic Committee’s president that the Summer Olympics scheduled to take place beginning July 24, 2020, would be delayed for possibly one year.
The Olympic and Paralympic Games will still be called Tokyo 2020 if they are held in 2021 and the Olympic flame will remain in Tokyo as a “beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times.”
The IOC had insisted the date of the scheduled games would not be changed, but out of concern for athletes around the world, the announcement was made. Tokyo has spent a reported $12 billion in preparation for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and had completed the construction of venues well ahead of schedule.
The following is a note sent from USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland to Team USA Athletes as the International Olympic Committee confirmed plans to postpone the Tokyo 2020 games.
Team USA Athletes:
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.
We heard your concerns and we shared them. I thank you for being so forthcoming with your perspectives, and also for allowing us the time to hear from your teammates across all sports before making a recommendation to the IOC.
With this decision, the work of planning a new version of the Tokyo Games is now officially underway.
At the same time, we know from you, it’s important that the process of ensuring it is a fair and equitable Games be given equal attention. Working in partnership with athletes, NGBs, International Federations, the IOC and IPC, we’ll (re)define standards for selection and anti-doping, and ensure the reimagined Games live up to the original promise of Tokyo 2020.
This summer was supposed to be a culmination of your hard work and life’s dream but taking a step back from competition to care for our communities and each other is the right thing to do. Your moment will wait until we can gather again safely.
I wish I had answers to every question out there, but the reality is this decision is unprecedented, and therefore, presents an entirely new process – for you, for the organizers, for the NGBs and for the USOPC. Please know we are committed to working with you in the coming days, weeks, and months to address them together.
In the meantime, please focus on taking care of yourself and your community. If you need support or have questions, please come to us or your NGB or the Athlete Ombudsman. We are here to help. As a reminder, we have expanded our mental health services available to you during this time.
The excellence within Team USA is our resilience and how we overcome adversity. I have no doubt we will get through this together as a team, and all be better because of it.
I sincerely look forward to working with you as we once again plan our path to Tokyo.
Wishing you all my very best and go Team USA!
Sarah
