Time and reasoning quickly running out on IOC and Japan’s ability to pull off 2020 Olympic Games
The coronavirus has put a halt and/or delay on much of the sports world. Leagues have stopped and even ended in some cases. Those actions, paired with the further delays into the summer have forced events like Copa America and Euro 2020 to have 2021 dates. Now, there is another event that whether they like it or not, it is on the chopping block.
The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Known as The Games of the XXXII Olympiad, they’re scheduled to open on July 24 but with the obvious amount of delays and practices of social distancing around the world that start date is in question. Even just weeks before all of the coronavirus stuff put a collective slowdown on the fast moving world. International Olympic Committee chairman Dick Pound has stated there’s been heavy talks about delaying the games but the talks continue.
As of this reading, we are 127 days away from the start of the Olympics and you can wildly gesture at everything that is going on in the world as to why these games should not go on.
Since 1896, there have been just three cancellations of the Summer Olympic Games and all of them were due to wars (1916, 1940, and 1944). There is no massive World War to impede the progress of the games this time, but there is a global pandemic that makes a cancellation or delay that much more likely.
“I want to hold the Olympics and Paralympics perfectly, as proof that the human race will conquer the new coronavirus, and I gained support for that from the G-7 leaders.” Japan Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe said in a statement put out by the IOC in light of calls to delay or cancel the games.
In Japan there are 829 cases of COVID-19 as of March 18, add that with the 149 other countries that have been impacted by it and now not only does Japan’s timeline for the games have an issue but a majority of these other countries (many are not as developed) face serious danger. Out of that 149, many of these countries are scheduled to participate in the games.
The task will be getting these countries healthy, in shape and in time for trials, competitions and making sure that the CDC can actually clear events on this massive scale. I just don’t see this happening, not at this rate and the time they need.
Here in the states, the Olympics is and has been America’s time to shine and with so many potential storylines from Simone Biles to the U.S. Women’s Swim Team to potentially a LeBron James exit from international basketball. All of that could go away.
Here’s a look at the tentative schedules for the following United States Olympic Team trials.
Track and Field: June 19-28
Swimming: June 21-28
Gymnastics: June 25-28
While those are all two months out are more, we just don’t know how long it will be until COVID-19 passes and it’s safe to assume normal activities again, if ever.
As much as the IOC and Prime Minister Abe want to run this worldwide event, the world’s events at hand right now are going to force their hand to make a cancellation sooner rather than later.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 5:30 AM.
