The International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee (TOCOG) and Tokyo Metropolitan Government today announced new dates for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Games of the XXXII Olympiad will now be held 23 July to 8 August 2021 with the Paralympic Games to follow from 24 August until 5 September 2021.
IOC’s statement read: “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, have the added benefit that any disruption the postponement will cause to the international sports calendar can be kept to a minimum.”
IOC President Thomas Bach added: “I am confident that we can master this unprecedented challenge. Humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be a light at the end of this tunnel.”
President of the IPC Andrew Parsons said it was fantastic that new dates could be found so quickly
“The new dates provide certainty for the athletes, reassurance for the stakeholders and something to look forward to for the whole world. When the Paralympic Games do take place in Tokyo next year, they will be an extra-special,” he said.
BWF is aware of the need to reschedule the World Championships 2021 normally staged in August with suitable alternatives being discussed with hosts Spain.