Tokyo 2020 Postponed Due to COVID-19


Needless to say, the Coronavirus pandemic (also known as COVID-19) is shaking up everyone’s way of life at this time. This week, Olympians and fans of the Olympics learned that Tokyo 2020 is no exception to the pandemic’s devastation.

Geannette Wittendorf - COVID-19

It’s a sad day for fans of the Olympic Games. On Monday, March 23, 2020, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound told USA Today that the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo “probably won’t happen.” With shutdowns going into effect around the globe, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is to blame for this announcement. IOC, however, has yet to release an official statement regarding postponement of the Games.

This news is a devastating blow to Olympians and fans of the Olympics alike. A whopping 1 million spectators attended the 2018 Winter Olympics. This was a surprising feat for the Winter Games, which often fall behind in attendance when compared to the Summer Olympics. With this number in mind, it is clear why postponement is imperative at this time.

Olympics fan, Geannette Wittendorf is disappointed to hear this news. Though she does commend the IOC for making this difficult and potentially life-saving decision. This is the third time that the Olympic Games have ever been cancelled or postponed, in history. The Summer and Winter Olympics were cancelled in 1916, 1940 and 1944, due to World War I and World War II. Wittendorf and her fellow Olympics fans are hopeful that Tokyo 2020 will not be cancelled. But only time will tell how COVID-19 continues to alter sporting events in this time of imperative social distancing.

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