The Tokyo Olympics have been pushed back to a date 'not later than summer 2021', it has been confirmed this afternoon.
Due to take place from July 24 until August 9 of this year, the 32nd Summer Olympic Games will now take place in 2021 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. Reports about the postponement of the event began to emerge this afternoon, with Reuters saying that International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach had agreed '100% on a proposal for a one-year delay on Tokyo games,' as per Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1242426667747946497
At around 12.45pm Irish time, the International Olympic Committee issued a
statement which says that 'In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.'
The news comes after Canada and Australia pulled their athletes out of this summer's Olympics while the USA had also called for a postponement.
Yesterday, the
Olympic Federation of Ireland said that it would be contacting its Tokyo bound member federations to get their views on a potential postponement of the games.
OFI President Sarah Keane said: 'We need to consider what’s right for our athletes, coaches, federations and all involved in supporting the system in Ireland at this time. This does include considering if our potential Olympians can and/or should continue to engage in organised training for the foreseeable future.'
https://twitter.com/TeamIreland/status/1242133258617466888
READ NEXT: Kodaline guitarist confirms he has contracted Covid-19
