2020 Olympics Postponed

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Tuesday that it will postpone the Summer Games to the summer of 2021. 

The Tokyo-based games were set to start in July, but the IOC faced mounting pressure to push the event due to the coronavirus pandemic. Canada’s Olympic committee withdrew from the games on Sunday and Australia’s athletes were told not to train due to the risk, per The New York Times.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization discussed worst-case scenarios with medical officers connected to Olympic events. While holding events without spectators was an option, ultimately organizers decided delaying the games would provide enough time to let the pandemic subside. Japan has already spent $10 billion in preparation for the games.

The calendar shift to next summer will certainly cause some logistical issues, but will cause fewer problems than moving the games later in 2020 when NFL football, playoff baseball and the Premier League are still scheduled to play. The Olympics has not been canceled or postponed since World War II.