The Tokyo Olympic Games, rescheduled for next year, has a new start date: July 23rd, 2021.
The 2020 Olympic Games were postponed earlier this month amid the global outbreak of COVID-19. Since then, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set to find a replacement date during the 2021 summer.
This Monday, the IOC has confirmed that the Tokyo Olympics will now commence on July 23rd, 2021, and will run until August 8th.
Meanwhile, the Paralympic Games will start on August 24th next year, concluding on September 6th.
IOC, IPC, Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and Tokyo Metropolitan Government announce new dates for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 https://t.co/QITtT5dcl8 pic.twitter.com/DHi4u74ZXa
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) March 30, 2020
The decision was made upon agreement between the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Government of Japan.
An official statement, illustrating the thought process behind the rescheduled dates, has been released on the official Olympic Games website, reading:
"These new dates give the health authorities and all involved in the organisation of the Games the maximum time to deal with the constantly changing landscape and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 statement continues:
"In a call on Tuesday 24 March 2020, based on information provided by the WHO at the time, IOC President Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzō concluded that the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would be held in their complete form and not later than summer 2021.
The Prime Minister reiterated that the government of Japan stands ready to fulfil its responsibility for hosting these successful Games.
"At the same time, IOC President Thomas Bach stressed the full commitment of the IOC to successful Olympic Games Tokyo 2020."
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