IOC not considering canceling Tokyo Olympics for now but postponing an option
By Kareem Gantt
The IOC is giving itself four more weeks to decide if the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will go on as scheduled or if they will be postponed. Canceling the summer games is not an option at the moment.
For the first time since the coronavirus outbreak, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is giving serious thought about postponing the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo.
According to BBC News Sports Editor Dan Roan, the IOC is giving itself four weeks to determine if the 2020 Tokyo Olympics should be postponed.
The decision to institute a deadline came during an executive board meeting on Mar. 22; and while cancellation was on the table, the Committee decided to rule that possibility out, and instead instituted its self-imposed four-week deadline.
Significant shift this, 1st real admission a postponement is being weighed up (although Bach alluded to it with NYT on Fri). Another option would be to go ahead with a ‘scaled-down’ Games, but delay of a few months OR a year looks almost certain now. Given themselves 4 weeks
— Dan Roan (@danroan) March 22, 2020
As major sports leagues and events have canceled en masse due to the coronavirus pandemic, the IOC was largely hesitant to put off the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, despite pressure to cancel the event.
The IOC has floated the possibility of a scaled-down Olympics that could be delayed for a few months. That option, according to Roan, looks more certain if the Games are allowed to be postponed.
The Olympic flame, after a stumbling journey, finally reached Japan, symbolizing a small victory for the IOC and Olympic organizers.
“For the first time in 56 years, the Olympic torch is heading to Tokyo and I hope that the Olympic torch will illuminate the path of hope for many people,” Olympic organizing President Yoshiro Mori said during the torch’s passing to Japan, via Time. The Olympic organizers did take precautions, however, limiting the once-grand spectacle to a slim-downed ceremony at an airbase in northern Japan.
The 2020 Summer Olympics is scheduled to begin July 24.