Organisers of this year’s Olympic Games in Japan have postponed the event until next year.
The Games, which were due to take place in June in Tokyo, have been rescheduled for a start date of July 23. They will finish on August 8.
The Paralympics will now go ahead from August 24 until September 5 next year. Despite being held a year later from the original start date, next year’s games will still be known as the 2020 Olympics.
Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, said the Games could provide a ‘light at the end of a dark tunnel of humanity’ for the world.
It said: "The new dates, exactly one year after those originally planned for 2020 (Olympic Games: 24 July to 9 August 2020 and Paralympic Games: 25 August to 6 September 2020), also have the added benefit that any disruption that the postponement will cause to the international sports calendar can be kept to a minimum, in the interests of the athletes and the IFs.
"Additionally, they will provide sufficient time to finish the qualification process. The same heat mitigation measures as planned for 2020 will be implemented."
the consultation process over the last few days. I would also like to thank the IOC Athletes’ Commission, with whom we have been in constant contact.
