Okay, let’s be mature about this as this is pretty serious. It hasn’t been an easy time for the Tokyo Olympics and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to the coronavirus pandemic. After thinking long and hard about whether to cancel or postpone the Tokyo Olympics until after the coronavirus situation settles, Dick Pound, actual man and longest-standing member of the IOC, has said that the event will indeed be delayed.
Listen to all the details on It’s Been A Big Day For…below:
Chatting to USA Today about the agonising up and down time he’s had due to the coronavirus and all the concerns the pandemic has erected, Dick Pound states that the Tokyo Olympics has been postponed until a later date, saying:
“On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided. The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.”
This position from Dick Pound and the IOC to postpone the Tokyo Olympics isn’t too surprising given the escalating coronavirus situation, as well as the premature pull outs of the event from Australia, Britain, and Canada (so far). No one expected any countries to be coming anyway out of safety for its athletes and the crowds had the Olympics been held as planned.
As for when the new dates for the Tokyo Olympics will be confirmed and what those dates will be, Dick Pound says that the matter is out of his and the IOC’s hands due to the fluidity of the coronavirus situation. But proving himself to be a master debater in the face of this rather slippery situation, Dick Pound does say that the IOC hopes to announce something in the coming weeks.
This will be done in “stages” as the IOC continues to poke around for information regarding the coronavirus situation, which is slowly inching onwards in agonising, unsatisfying fashion.
That being said, the IOC and Japan have not given its consent to cancelling the Tokyo Olympics and have stated that different positions will be considered in light of the circumstances.
Look, this is a tough situation for the Tokyo Olympics, Japan, and the IOC given what is at stake here (i.e the billions of dollars involved). It must’ve been hard for Dick Pound to tell the world that the event has been postponed due to the coronavirus, but here’s hoping this whole situation comes to an overall satisfying climax for those involved soon.
Always be in the loop with our snackable podcast breaking the biggest story of the day. Subscribe to It’s Been A Big Day For… on your favourite podcast app.