Tokyo Olympics & Paralympics 2020 Postponed to 2021

The IOC (International Olympic Committee) finally announced the Tokyo Olympics & Paralympics 2020 are postponed until 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made announcements on March 24th, which came with little surprise but a lot of relief.

Shinzo Abe said “I confirmed with President Bach that there will be no cancellation. We agreed to hold the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in the summer of 2021 at the latest.

The Tokyo organizing committee had said the budget needed for the games was 1.35 trillion yen ($12 billion), but actual spending related to the sporting extravaganza is expected to have been as much as 3 trillion yen, according to estimates by the country’s Board of Audit reported Kyodo News.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, due to begin July 24, and followed by the Paralympics on August 25th 2020 would have included the Women’s and Men’s Rugby 7s and Wheelchair rugby events.

World Rugby – Tokyo 2020 postponement

World Rugby said it “supports the prudent and necessary decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee to postpone the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The health and safety of the athletes, fans, and everyone involved is our shared priority and responsibility and we believe the right decision has been taken in these very difficult and unprecedented circumstances.

We look forward to working closely together in a spirit of partnership with the IOC, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and all other stakeholders towards the rescheduling of the Games and our belief from the outstanding Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, is that the hosts will come out of this adversity stronger and more committed than ever before to deliver an exceptional Games.

IWRF – Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Postponement

The IWRF issued a statement released from the president of the International Paralympic Committee Andrew Parsons President to confirm the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games had been postponed to 2021.

In the statement, he said: “Postponing the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games as a result of the global COVID-19 outbreak is absolutely the right thing to do.   The health and well-being of human life must always be our number one priority and staging a sports event of any kind during this pandemic is simply not possible.”

As for postponement, work still needs to be undertaken with all stakeholders to determine the exact dates for next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.  However, the Games will be held at a date beyond 2020 but no later than the summer of 2021.

Asia Rugby – Olympic Games postponed

Asia Rugby President Mr Qais al Dhalai, said of the news: “We at Asia Rugby welcome the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee’s decision to postpone the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo.

“We have seen the strength and resolve of the Japanese people and we know whenever the games will be held, they will reflect the same spirit that we saw during the challenges with super typhoon Hagibis at the last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.

“We at Asia Rugby strongly believe that this historical decision has been taken for the best interest of the Olympic movement and for humanity in general.”

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