Originally scheduled for 2020, the Tokyo Olympic Games was moved to July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the pandemic seeming to linger longer than forecasted, there are fears that the prestigious competition might have to be canceled for the time being.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics organisers, however, don’t share in that fear reports of a cancellation have been rubbished even as relevant stakeholders agree that it may be postponed again.
The Olympic Games #Tokyo2020 will be held from 23 July until 8 August 2021.
More information here: https://t.co/ST25uXKglE pic.twitter.com/sQo1TIcH5O
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) March 30, 2020
AFP further reports that an online poll may see the game cancelled entirely.
One standout reason in favor of the cancellation is therapidly increasing number of infection in the city. Also, early in January 2021, Japan declared a state of emergency in Tokyo.
This puts preparation for the Games in doubt although Tokyo 2020 CEO, Toshiro Muto, said that what the online poll showed was that there are more people who want the Olympic Games postponed again than those that want outright cancellation.
“The number of people calling for it to be cancelled has only risen by about five per cent. The number of people calling for it to be postponed has risen a lot, but that means those people still want it to be held,” he said.
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He also acknowledged the difficulty that the organisers face. “Of course, for it to be held, we have to guarantee that we hold a safe Games with anti-virus measures,” Muto added.
Yet, despite the obvious tough schedule, the Games will still hold. Maybe not just on 23 July 2021. “I want to say that we are not thinking that way at all,” the CEO said about cancelling Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will feature 33 sports, 339 medal events and 42 venues. Unless there are new changes, the competition will start two days before the Opening Ceremony.
New sports that fans should look out for at the competition include; softball, 3×3 basketball, skateboarding (street), sport climbing and surfing.
There are unverified reports that athletes contesting at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games may jump the queue and get the COVID-19 vaccine. Some stakeholders and even athletes (like Canada’s Olympic wrestling champion Erica Wiebe) have kicked against this idea, however.
Weibe had argued that frontline workers and vulnerable people should first get the vaccine as planned. “I think the Olympic movement stands in its purity for a lot more than just putting athletes on stage to entertain the world,” she told CBC.
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