Without a doubt, the Olympics are one of the most significant events on the face of the planet. However, it appears that the 2020 Olympic Games, scheduled to take place in Tokyo this year, have been postponed, according to a new report. That would make it yet another event canceled due to coronavirus.
The news comes from International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound, who told USA Today, “On the basis of information the IOC has, postponement has been decided.” Rumors of the Olympics being canceled have circulated online, as the increasingly severe nature of the coronavirus raised doubts over whether or not the event would take place. Other events have also beencanceled, including SXSWfor the first time ever.
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“It will come in stages,” Pound said. “We will postpone this and begin to deal with all the ramifications of moving this, which are immense.” No official announcement regarding the event’s cancelation has been made yet, however. Health officials have raised concerns about the potential ramifications of theOlympics not being postponed, many fearing that it would cause coronavirus cases to skyrocket globally.
There’s no telling when the event would be rescheduled for, either. Estimates of when the coronavirus will be under control have varied wildly, though that will likely be a significant determining factor in choosing a new date for the Olympics. There are still major events scheduled for later in the year, withGamescom still moving aheadas normal in August, at least for the time being.
The effects of the coronavirus have been far-reaching thus far, with both minor and major events being canceled throughout the world.Movie theaters have closed, games have been delayed, and all manner of production has been disrupted. Not to mention, the massive human cost associated with a pandemic.
For now, there’s little to do other than wait for an official announcement. Given that the information has begun to spread, there’s little doubt that something more official is imminent. The Olympics have a long and storied history, persisting throughout generations. While the postponement would be unfortunate, there’s no denying that it would ultimately be for the best. Fans and athletes will just have to wait and see what becomes of it.
