2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics will be postponed, says IOC member

Nexstar Media Wire

5 years ago

A woman pauses for photos next to the Olympic rings near the New National Stadium in Tokyo, Monday, March 23, 2020. The IOC will take up to four weeks to consider postponing the Tokyo Olympics amid mounting criticism of its handling of the coronavirus crisis that now includes a call for delay from the leader of track and field, the biggest sport at the games. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A member of the International Olympic Committee told USA TODAY that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games will be postponed until 2021 in light of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

“The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know,” veteran committee member Dick Pound told the paper on Monday.

The details will be worked out within the next four weeks, according to the report.

On Sunday, IOC President Thomas Bach said he would make a decision on whether or not to postpone the games over the next four weeks.

Over the weekend, the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees said they would not be sending a delegation of athletes to the games, and Australia, Germany, Brazil and Norway urged IOC to postpone the games.