A veteran International Olympic Committee member said, ‘postponement has been decided.’
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will postpone the 2020 Tokyo games, likely until 2021, USA Today reports.
Longtime committee member Dick Pound told the newspaper the decision has been made, with full details to come next month.
Update: The International Olympic Committee has announced new dates for the 2021 Olympics. They will hold the games from July 23 to August 8, 2021.
“On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided,” Pound said in a phone interview.
This news comes less than a day after the IOC issued a statement saying it might consider postponing the games but would not cancel them. That statement sparked moves by both the Canadian and Australian Olympic committees to withdraw from the 2020 games.
“While it is incredibly disappointing, postponement is likely the best option we have,” said Sarah Laico, events and logistics extern at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
“The games simply would not have gone on with the same vigor and excitement they deserve, and we owe it to our athletes to keep them safe and healthy, first and foremost. I look forward to seeing Team USA shine at the right time, under the right conditions.”
We will update this story with more information as it becomes available.
