Coronavirus: IOC Member Says Tokyo 2020 Summer Games Will Be Postponed

The event had been under global pressure to postpone for the first time in its 124-year modern history, with major sporting nations Australia and Canada withdrawing on Monday as well.

Photo: Tokyo Olympics

According to International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound on March 23, the IOC could postpone the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event had been under global pressure to postpone for the first time in its 124-year modern history, with major sporting nations Australia and Canada withdrawing on Monday as well.

Speaking to Reuters, Mr. Pound said that a one-year postponement seemed to be the most likely solution. Originally scheduled for July 24 to August 9, the Games are likely to be held in the summer of 2021.

Mr. Pound added: “From reading IOC-speak in the communique if you are going to cancel, you simply cancel because there are no future plans. But if you are going to carry on with the original objective (to stage the Games), there is no reason to issue a statement because you have already done that over the past several weeks.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Pound said a large number of stakeholders, from the organizing committee and athletes to broadcasters and sporting federations, would all need to be consulted before a plan could be finalized, but there were early signs of a willingness to accommodate a 2021 Summer Games.