Dates confirmed for Olympics and Paralympics in 2021
Dates for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics have been announced after the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee and Tokyo 2020 organisers agreed on a new schedule for 2021.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will now take place on 23 July - 8 August 2021, while the Paralympic Games will follow on 24 August-5 September 2021 – both one day shy of one year on from the original dates for the Games.
Six days after announcing the decision to postpone the Olympics and Paralympics in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the key parties held a meeting via teleconference to confirm the new schedule.
Central to the discussion were three main considerations: protection of the health of athletes and all involved while supporting the containment of COVID-19; safeguarding the interests of athletes and Olympic sport; and the global sports calendar.
“I want to thank the International Federations for their unanimous support and the Continental Associations of National Olympic Committees for the great partnership and their support in the consultation process over the last few days,” IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.
“I would also like to thank the IOC Athletes’ Commission, with whom we have been in constant contact. With this announcement, I am confident that, working together with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Government and all our stakeholders, we can master this unprecedented challenge.
“Humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be a light at the end of this tunnel.”
Andrew Parsons, the President of the IPC, commented: “It is fantastic news that we could find new dates so quickly for the Tokyo 2020 Games. The new dates provide certainty for the athletes, reassurance for the stakeholders and something to look forward to for the whole world.
“When the Paralympic Games do take place in Tokyo next year, they will be an extra-special display of humanity uniting as one, a global celebration of human resilience and a sensational showcase of sport.
“With the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games 512 days away, the priority for all those involved in the Paralympic Movement must be to focus on staying safe with their friends and family during this unprecedented and difficult time.”
The ITF welcomes this step towards what will be a truly special global event in 2021 and we greatly appreciate the speed at which the IOC has taken this decision. We are now in a position to resume planning for the Tokyo 2020 Games and will provide updates regarding the qualification system in due course.