Tokyo 2020: What’s old is new again

“The upcoming Olympic Games has incurred immense disruption as the threat toward personal safety is on the rise, leaving host organizers with the challenge of welcoming fans and competitors amid disturbing headlines.”

This was the concern leading up to the Rio 2016 Olympics as reporters highlighted problems with crime, pollution, and the zika virus. Ticket sales slowed, and while these issues failed to live up to the hype, drama has returned for the organizers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Olympics could not be held now; hopeful for July
A respected Japanese virologist said if the Tokyo Olympics were tomorrow, the games probably couldn’t be held because of the fast-spreading coronavirus from Wuhan, China. “We need to find the best way to have a safe Olympics,” Dr Hitoshi Oshitani said, speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan. “Right now we don’t have an effective strategy, and I think it may be difficult to have the Olympics (now). But by the end of July we may be in a different situation.” Full report.

London can host 2020 Games if it has to be moved over coronavirus
London would be ready to host the 2020 Olympics if the outbreak of the coronavirus forced the Games to be moved from Tokyo, Shaun Bailey, the Conservative candidate for mayor of the British capital, has said. London hosted the Olympics in 2012, but British officials played down the prospect of taking away the Games from Tokyo, which has been planning the event for seven years since its bid won in 2013. Full report.

Tokyo Governor criticizes “inappropriate” offer
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has criticized an “inappropriate” offer from London to step in to replace the city as hosts of this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games because of the coronavirus outbreak. London Mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey claimed the city “can host the Olympics in 2020” and the world “might need us to step up” due to the virus, which has so far killed 2,250 people and infected over 76,000 worldwide. Full report.

Praying for coronavirus to “vanish” before Olympics
Tokyo 2020 President Yoshirō Mori has admitted he is praying for the coronavirus to “vanish” amid lingering concerns over the impact of the outbreak on this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games. Organisers and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have repeatedly insisted the virus, which has so far killed 2,362 and infected around 78,000 worldwide, will not force the Games to be cancelled or postponed. Full report.

TOKYO 2020 Sailing Program
Men’s One Person Dinghy – Laser
Women’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
Men’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Women’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s Skiff – 49erFx
Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy – Finn
Men’s Windsurfing – RS:X
Women’s Windsurfing – RS:X
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17

Olympic schedule: July 24 – Aug 9
Sailing schedule: July 26 – Aug 6
Details: https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/schedule/olympic/