After Mixed Emotions and Mixed Messages, the Olympics have been Postponed to 2021

By Elizabeth Heuser

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The decision comes after the International Olympic Committee initially anticipated the Olympics remaining as scheduled, followed by urges from organizations to postpone them in favor of health and safety.

As the coronavirus pandemic shows no hope of a quick ending, Japan and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on March 24 that the 2020 Summer Olympics set in Tokyo have been postponed until 2021. Dick Pound, an influential and longstanding member of the IOC, described the consequences of this action as “immense.”

Although it took a massive effort for the decision to be made, it is not unprecedented nor taken lightly. Only three Olympics have been cancelled since the games began, all three during wars.

Japan decided that dangers to athletes and attendees outweighed the financial hit the country would inevitably take. Japan had already invested billions in the events, and is expected to see a decline in annual GDP growth by 1.4%.

Originally, the IOC stated that the 2020 Summer Olympics would “proceed as planned” despite the coronavirus outbreak. This statement came in mid-February, more than a month before any of the U.S. implemented shelter-in-place orders.

Organizations like USA Swimming, USA Track and Field, and USA Gymnastics sent letters to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee requesting them to postpone the Summer Olympics. President Donald Trump also echoed these sentiments, asking for a delay instead of the games with no spectators.

Athletes expressed their feelings and reactions to the Summer Olympics being postponed after Japan and the IOC made the decision.

World track champion Dina Asher Smith posted a hopeful message encouraging everyone to stay safe and continue to harbor excitement for the games in 2021. Olympic medalist Tom Daley admitted that while age could affect his performance, the sacrifice was a necessary one.

While the decision is important for the wellbeing of the world when put into perspective, the Olympics have never been postponed to the following year before. This leaves countless questions in regards to athletes’ training and performances, Japan’s economic consequences, and inevitably many more that will arise. This will surely make for one of the most memorable Olympics yet.