Olympics and Paralympics 2021 dates set

The Olympics and Paralympics 2021 dates were set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on Monday 30th March 2020.

Olympics and Paralympics 2021 dates

The Games were postponed by a year due to COVID-19 and the new dates for 2021 were set as:

• Olympics Games 2021: 23 July – 8 August
• Paralympic Games 2021: 24 August – 5 September

Olympic 7s Rugby 2021

The new dates pose a problem for South Africa and any potential British and Irish Lions players who were aiming for an Olympic 7s rugby spot. The new dates clash with the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa with test matches being played on 24th July, 31st July and 7th August 2021.

South Africa had already been mulling the inclusion of players such as Cheslin Kolbe and Kwagga Smith among others.

Who has qualified for Tokyo 2020 Rugby sevens?

Following the regional qualifying process for Tokyo 2020, 3 spots remain. There is one left in the men’s competition, and 2 in the women’s.

From Asia, the Hong Kong and Chinese men still can qualify from the repechage tournament which needs to have a new date confirmed, while the HK and Kazakhstan ladies also enter the repechage tournament.

• MEN: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Great Britain, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, Korea.
• WOMEN: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Fiji, Great Britain, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, USA,

Paralympic Games Wheelchair Rugby 2021

The teams for the 2021 Games in Tokyo are already confirmed and IPC President Andrew Parsons said: “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.”

He added, “Now that the dates are confirmed, the IPC will work with the International Federations to establish new qualification criteria which will fully respect those that have already qualified for the Games.”

Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Wheelchair Rugby

The 8 wheelchair rugby nations that will be represented at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics are:

• Australia
• Canada
• Denmark
• France
• Great Britain
• New Zealand
• United States
• Japan

World rugby news

• Bingham Cup postponed to 2022.
• Details confirmed for the 2021 RWC in NZ.
• Read about SEARR.Net (referees) volunteering in Asia.
• How does Coronavirus affect rugby in Asia in 2020?