Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Are Postponed to 2021
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Tokyo, Japan (March 30th, 2020)–Attention Olympic Games worldwide boxing fans. The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games are now postponed until at least 2021. Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reached an agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the Olympic Games one year later in 2021, due to the worldwide situation of Novel Coronavirus COVID-19.
The Olympic Games were cancelled in 1916 due to the outbreak of World War I, and again in 1940 and 1944 due to World War II. This is the first Olympic postponement in Olympic history due to a pandemic. It means the athletes will have to remain in training for an additional calendar year, and country-by-country Tokyo Olympic team selections for the XXXIII Tokyo Olympiad will undoubtedly undergo some changes between now and when the Olympic Games are ultimately held in Summer 2021, if they occur at all.
The IOC and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, in a joint statement, noted International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and Prime Minister Abe agreed in principle the Games needed to be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021. However, this decision is still predicated on the international community at large defeating the Coronavirus pandemic, which currently remains unresolved.
Here is the joint statement: “In (under) the present circumstances, and based on the information provided by the WHO (The World Health Organization), the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded 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 leaders agree the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times, and the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel, in which the world finds itself at present. Therefore, it was agreed the Olympic flame will stay (lit) in Japan. It was also agreed the Games will (nonetheless) keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.”
Close to a million people may be infected with the Coronavirus. Over 35 thousand people have died worldwide from the Coronavirus, and the numbers are still rapidly rising. Much of the world remains in restrictive isolation at home, excepting travel to grocery stores., pharmacies and hospitals. The current United States restrictions remain in place till April 30, 2020, and could be extended based on the spread of the coronavirus. All sports have stopped. To all of our readers of Real Combat Media online, stay at home, stay healthy, and stay safe. Everything is going to be alright as long as we follow protective guidelines.
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