With or Without Covid-19 : Tokyo Olympics 2020

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The Games of the XXXII Olympiad aka Tokyo Olympics 2020, left many sports enthusiastic entangled in despair emotions due to its postponement. The Summer Olympic 2020, was originally scheduled to begin between 24 July and 9th August 2020 but was postponed to next year as a result of COVID- 19 fear. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 however is still most likely to take place from July 23rd to August 8th, 2021 with or without the pandemic being active throughout the world. 

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“It will take place with or without COVID. The Games will start on July 23rd next year” said Mr. Coats, the head of the International Olympics Committee’s Coordination Commission for Tokyo games. 

The IOC vice president John Coates told to news agency AFP, that they would be the “Games that conquered COVID”, emphasizing on “Olympic flame” to be the sign of the recovery for the region’s suffered in 2011, earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown in Japan. 

 

"The Games were going to be there the theme, the Reconstruction Games after the devastation of the tsunami," Mr. Coates told AFP, referring to the 2011 catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

 

This decision as per the WHO reports was considered under Prime Minister of Japan and IOC president to rescheduled the date beyond 2020, but no later than summer 2021, to safeguard the athletes, Olympic games members and the international community.

 

  Task Force Reviewing Factors for Tokyo Olympics, 2020.

 

To maintain such a vision in the active pandemic throughout the world, a task force has been created to review the factors such as border control affecting the travel, as more than 11,000 athletes from approx 200 countries were confirmed to participate in 2020 games, but due to the current border restrictions of Japan for foreign countries may create a decline in the numbers. After reviewing, the Japan government has decided to exempt the athletes from entry restrictions. The staff delegations from each country, opening and closing ceremonies and the viewers packing the venue are also under radar and alternatives solutions are being tested. 

“Limited Spectators” for the Olympics Games

It is also expected that there will be “limited spectators” instead of with no spectators for the Olympics said by Mr. Toshiro Muto, the CEO of Tokyo Committee of the Olympic and Paralympics Games 2020. He also stated that the games can be held even without the vaccine, but do consider it beneficial for the event. The Olympics 2020, organizers are also seeking ways to reduce the cost of the games delayed by coronavirus pandemic. 

 

  “Cost Cutting” required due to postponed Olympics

 

The cost-cutting is a vital part as rebooking of venues and transport required for huge organizing team for one a year more has added up the cost. To reduce the high expenses organizers will scrutinize the number of officials scheduled to be present at Tokyo 2020 said by Mr. Muto on a news conference on 15th September 2020. The Welcoming ceremonies for athletes, costs at venues, athletes' villages, training facilities and the international press centre are also being reviewed stated by him and agreed with the remarks of with the International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates.

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“Our thought is accorded... with the opinion of Chairman Coates” over their commitment to holding the Games, Muto said.

 

At the 20 years old Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics on 15th September 2020, IOC Vice-President and Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates has given the rescheduled Games a strong endorsement. In other positive news, Coates also stated that if the Olympics go ahead then so will the Paralympics. The Olympics are in full swing and are about to take off by next year.