March 30/20 10:47 am - New Dates Announced for Olympics & Paralympics

Posted by Editoress on 03/30/20
 

The International Olympic and Paralympic Committees (IOC/IPC) have announced the dates for the postponed Games that were scheduled to take place this summer, prior to the coronavirus pandemic forcing the rescheduling of all sporting events. Both will take place almost exactly one year later than the 2020 dates, with the Olympics now set for July 23rd to August 8th, 2021, while the Paralympics will be August 24th to September 5th, 2021. The Olympics begin one day earlier than the 2020 date and finish on the same date, while the Paralympics start and finish a day earlier than the 2020 dates.

Following today's decision, the IOC President said: "I want to thank the International Federations for their unanimous support and the Continental Associations of National Olympic Committees for the great partnership and their support in the consultation process over the last few days. I would also like to thank the IOC Athletes' Commission, with whom we have been in constant contact. With this announcement, I am confident that, working together with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Government and all our stakeholders, we can master this unprecedented challenge. Humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be a light at the end of this tunnel."

Andrew Parsons, the President of the IPC, commented: "It is fantastic news that we could find new dates so quickly for the Tokyo 2020 Games. The new dates provide certainty for the athletes, reassurance for the stakeholders and something to look forward to for the whole world. When the Paralympic Games do take place in Tokyo next year, they will be an extra-special display of humanity uniting as one, a global celebration of human resilience and a sensational showcase of sport. With the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games 512 days away, the priority for all those involved in the Paralympic Movement must be to focus on staying safe with their friends and family during this unprecedented and difficult time."

It has previously been confirmed that all athletes already qualified and quota places already assigned for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will remain unchanged. This is a result of the fact that these Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, in agreement with Japan, will remain the Games of the XXXII Olympiad.