Tokyo 2020: Still remaining hopeful

When the Tokyo 2020 Games were officially postponed in March, the unprecedented and unpredictable spread of the outbreak had seen the situation in the rest of the world deteriorating. Delaying one year to nearly the same dates in 2021 on July 23 to August 8, it was with the belief that a virus vaccine and rebounding economy would allow the show to go on.

But it was an expensive decision, with the Tokyo Olympics already the most expensive Summer Games on record with costs set to go higher, according to the Associated Press. The Tokyo cost overrun already exceeds 200%, and this is even before several billion more dollars are added on from the one-year delay from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yet, everyone still remains hopeful…

• The postponed Tokyo Olympic Games will go ahead next year “with or without COVID”, the vice-president of the International Olympic Committee says. John Coates confirmed to news agency AFP that the Olympics would start on 23 July next year, calling them the “Games that conquered COVID”. The IOC had earlier said they would not delay the Games beyond 2021. Full report.

• Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said the Japanese capital should host the postponed Summer Olympics “by all means” next year by taking thorough measures against the novel coronavirus pandemic. She said Tokyo will “implement every possible measure” to hold a “safe and secure” Olympics and Paralympics, though the government and the games’ organizing committee are making preparations on the assumption that the global spread of the virus will not be completely contained by the time of the Tokyo Games. Full report.

Olympic 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

Original dates: July 24 to August 9, 2020
Revised dates: July 23 to August 8, 2021

Details: https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/schedule/olympic/