Tokyo Olympics to be postponed, won't start on July 24
What's the story
According to an International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound, it has been decided that the upcoming Tokyo Games will postponed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. Pound stated that the Olympics will not commence as per the original schedule (July 24) and will likely be pushed to 2021. On Monday, Canada became the first nation to pull out of the Olympics. Here is more.
Quote
The postponement has been decided, says Dick Pound
"On the basis of the information, the postponement has been decided. The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know," Dick Pound said.
Announcement
IOC will announce next steps soon
Pound believes IOC will further make announcement regarding the next steps soon. "It will come in stages. We will postpone this and begin to deal with all the ramifications of moving this, which are immense," Pound said. Another IOC member Craig Reedie told The Associated Press on Monday that the Games, in all likelihood, will be postponed to next year.
Japan PM
Shinzo Abe hinted at postponement of Olympics
In a recent statement, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also voiced his opinion about the fate of Olympics. He reiterated that postponement looks unavoidable at the moment. Abe's comments came after Canada pulled out of the Games, owing to the coronavirus scare. This was the first acknowledgement about the fate of the Olympics by the Japanese PM as the outburst continues to rise globally.
IOC
IOC had sought four weeks for a exploring alternative
Earlier, the International Olympic Committee had announced that it may take four weeks to review the alternatives. It also added that a complete cancelation is not under consideration at the moment. This was the first such alarming statement by IOC. "The IOC is confident that it will have finalised these discussions within the next four weeks," the statement read.
Opinions
A number of nations advocate Olympics to be postponed
While the Olympic Committee in Canada decided to not send the athletes to Tokyo Olympics, the Australian Olympic Committee also asked their athletes to begin Olympic preparation for the summer of 2021. The National Olympic committees in Brazil and Slovenia also vouch for a postponement to next year. Furthermore, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency also feels the Games should be called-off.