If the Tokyo Olympics Are Postponed... Japanese Media Say "The Biggest Issue Is Adjusting the Event Schedule" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has begun considering options including postponing the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for July, but experts predict that securing a new schedule if the Olympics are delayed will not be easy. There are already numerous international events planned, and it is expected to be difficult to find a time that satisfies the many stakeholders involved.

On the 23rd, Asahi Shimbun reported, "The IOC has not specified a concrete time for the event if postponed," and noted that "major international sports events are already crowded in the 2021-2022 calendar." Not only are originally scheduled international competitions taking place, but some international events planned for this year have been postponed to next year due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), making it difficult to determine a new date for the Olympics.

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

The year after next, 2022, will be the year of the Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. The Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics are scheduled for February to March 2022, followed by the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in September of the same year. Then, the World Cup will be held in Qatar from November to December. Typically, the World Cup is held in June or July after the European professional leagues conclude, but considering Qatar’s high temperatures, the event has been rescheduled to November and December.

Moreover, finding a time that satisfies the many stakeholders is even more challenging. Nihon Keizai Shimbun noted that the modern sports world operates year-round through sports events that utilize funding from broadcasters and sponsor companies, making it difficult to decide a new Olympic schedule considering these factors. While it would be ideal to hold the Olympics safely within this year assuming the COVID-19 situation is under control, from autumn onward, the North American professional sports seasons such as the NFL (National Football League) and NBA (National Basketball Association) begin, and NBC, the American broadcaster that has paid large broadcasting rights fees, is reportedly reluctant.

Furthermore, Nihon Keizai Shimbun analyzed that the later the Olympics are held, the more the related costs will increase. If measures such as re-securing venues are required, issues like compensation and contract renewals will arise, increasing expenses. This would likely lead to additional financial input from Japan. Nihon Keizai Shimbun stated, "If the event is canceled, the specific losses must be clarified, and if postponed, the extent of increased costs and who will bear them must be at least communicated by local governments and the national government to gain public understanding."

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

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.