After weeks of discussion and contemplation, the organisers of the summer Games decided to shift the Olympics by a year, hence relieving the athletes of training amid these tough times.
The International Olympic Committee made the decision after having a word with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and local organisers on Tuesday, albeit they insisted that the Games will still be called the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday announced the postponement of the 2020 Games, scheduled for July-August, to no later than the summer of 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic which has brought the world to a standstill.
The 2020 Olympics was scheduled to begin from July 24 onwards
Canada and Australia have already made it clear that they will not be sending their teams for the Olympics due to the worsening pandemic, which has so far killed 16,000 people and infected close to 4,00,000 globally.
The coronavirus outbreak has claimed over 16,000 lives and infected close to 400,000 people world over.The pandemic has caused the world to come to a virtual standstill.
Indian men and women hockey teams are practising at SAI centre Bengaluru where no unauthorised person can enter the campus.
The Badminton World Federation has suspended all tournaments till April 12 due to the pandemic, which has brought the whole world to a standstill with countries shutting down borders and going into lockdown mode.
The response from IOA came after IOC member Dick Pound stated that the 2020 Summer Games will be postponed by one year because of coronavirus.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee sent a survey over the weekend to more than 4,000 athletes for details on how the coronavirus pandemic has influenced their training and their feelings about the upcoming games.
Athletes also grew louder in their request for postponement. A track group called The Athletics Association joined another athlete group, Global Athlete, in pressing the IOC to act.
Pound, who is a Canadian and has been a key member of the IOC for decades, reckons that the committee will announce the steps soon.
The 25-year-old Bajrang is one of India's medal contenders at the Games, which are under doubt due to the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 15000 lives and infected more than 3,00,000 people worldwide.
The Federation Cup, which was to serve as a qualifying event of the Tokyo Olympics, was scheduled to be held from April 10-13 at NIS Patiala.
The IOA is yet to take a call on India's participation in the Tokyo Olympics.
At the age of 24, ace shuttler Padukone defeated two-time defending champion Liem Swie King of Indonesia 15-3, 15-10 at the Wembley Stadium on March 23, 1980.
Amid the lockdowns and self-isolation process, we bring to you a list of best sports movies that can temporarily drive away your boredom.
Japan's Olympic minister told reporters that the Japanese leg of the Olympic torch relay for the summer Games, scheduled to start from Fukushima Prefecture on Thursday, will go ahead as planned.
The IOC has come under tremendous pressure to push back the games, to be held from July 24 to August 9, from several sporting federations and athletes.
The Indian Olympic Association has said that it will wait for '4 to 5 weeks' before coming to a decision on participation in the Tokyo Olympics.
Top News
Latest News
