If the Tokyo Olympics Are Postponed, When Will They Be Held? "Next Year and the Year After Have Numerous International Events"

[Image source=Reuters News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has begun considering options including postponing the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for July, and there are forecasts that securing a new schedule will not be easy if the Olympic hosting period is delayed.

On the 23rd, Asahi Shimbun reported, "The IOC has not specifically mentioned the timing if postponed," adding, "The schedules for major international sports events in 2021-2022 are already crowded." Not only the originally planned international competitions but also some international events that were supposed to take place this year have been postponed to next year due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), making it difficult to determine a postponement date for the Olympics.

Next summer, the World Championships in swimming and athletics will be held. The swimming championships are scheduled to take place in Fukuoka City, Japan, from July 16 to August 1 next year. From August 6 to 15 of the same year, the World Athletics Championships will be held in Oregon, USA. Additionally, the UEFA European Football Championship, originally scheduled for June this year, has been postponed to June 11 to July 11 next year. The UEFA European Football Championship is a large-scale event held across 12 cities in 11 European countries.

2022 is the year when the Winter Olympics and the World Cup will be held. The Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics are scheduled for February to March of the year after next, and the Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou, China, in September of the same year. Following that, the World Cup will be held in Qatar from November to December. Usually, the World Cup is held in June to July after the European professional leagues conclude, but considering Qatar’s high temperatures, it has been adjusted to take place in November to December.

Earlier, on the 22nd (local time), the IOC announced that it would start detailed discussions including postponing the Tokyo Olympics and reach a conclusion within four weeks. In a statement released after an emergency executive board meeting that day, the IOC said, "The IOC will begin detailed discussions, including scenarios for postponement, in cooperation with the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, Japanese authorities, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to complete an assessment of the rapidly changing global health situation and its impact on the Olympics," adding that cancellation is excluded from the discussion agenda.

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