Page 37 - Nile Explorer Issue 007
P. 37
Photo:The City of Tokyo. In a call on Tuesday 24 March 2020,
T he leaderships of the key parties modern Olympics were held in 1896 based on information provided by the
that the Games have been drastically
WHO at the time, IOC President
came together via telephone
conference, joined by IOC Presi- affected by forces outside the control of Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime
the organizers. The other three occa-
dent Thomas Bach, Tokyo 2020 Presi- sions were cancellations during the first Minister Abe Shinzō concluded that the
dent Mori Yoshirō, Tokyo Governor and second World Wars. Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would be
Koike Yuriko and Olympic and held in their complete form and not
Paralympic Minister Hashimoto Seiko, According to the release, the decision later than summer 2021. The Prime
and agreed on the new schedule. was made to protect the health of the Minister reiterated that the government
This decision was taken based on three athletes and everyone involved, and to of Japan stands ready to fulfil its respon-
support the containment of the
main considerations and in line with the COVID-19 virus, to safeguard the inter- sibility for hosting these successful
principles established by the IOC Exec- ests of the athletes and of Olympic sport Games. At the same time, IOC President
utive Board (EB) on 17 March 2020 and and sustain the global international Thomas Bach stressed the full commit-
confirmed at its meeting at the end of sports calendar. ment of the IOC to successful Olympic
March. These were supported by all the Games Tokyo 2020.
International Summer Olympic Sports These new dates give the health authori- Following decision, the IOC President
Federations (IFs) and all the National ties and all involved in the organization said: “I want to thank the International
Olympic Committees (NOCs): of the Games the maximum time to deal Federations for their unanimous
with the constantly changing landscape
In a joint statement, International and the disruption caused by the support and the Continental Associa-
Olympic Committee (Ioc), The Interna- COVID-19 pandemic. The new dates, tions of National Olympic Committees
tional Paralympic Committee (Ipc), The exactly one year after those originally for the great partnership and their
Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, planned for 2020 (Olympic Games: 24 support in the consultation process over
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government July to 9 August 2020 and Paralympic the last few days. I would also like to
And The Government Of Japan said Games: 25 August to 6 September 2020), thank the IOC Athletes’ Commission,
they had agreed new dates for the games also have the added benefit that any with whom we have been in constant
of the xxxii Olympiad, in 2021. The disruption that the postponement will contact. With this announcement, I am
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be cause to the international sports calen- confident that, working together with
celebrated from 23 July to 8 august dar can be kept to a minimum, in the the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee,
2021. They also agreed on new dates for interests of the athletes and the IFs. the Tokyo Metropolitan Government,
the Paralympic games, which will be Additionally, they will provide suffi- the Japanese Government and all our
celebrated from 24 august until 5 cient time to finish the qualification stakeholders, we can master this
September 2021. process. The same heat mitigation unprecedented challenge. Humankind
currently finds itself in a dark tunnel.
Just as extraordinary as step appears, measures as planned for 2020 will be These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can
this marks the fourth time since the first implemented. be a light at the end of this tunnel.”
The Nile Explorer 007 | 37
