In the context of the impact the coronavirus has had on the global sports landscape, what seemed like an inevitability for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo will soon become a reality. International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound says the Games will be postponed, likely to 2021.
"On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided,” Pound told USA Today. "The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.”
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Many anticipated such a move on the part of the IOC, especially after countries like Canada and Australia claimed they would not participate if the Olympics are held as scheduled this summer. Yet the reactions flooded social media in the wake of USA Today's report.
Below are a few of those reactions.
Rosie MacLennan, two-time Olympic gold medalist, on Canada's decision to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics:
— Dan Robson (@RobsonDan) March 23, 2020
“Now is not the time to be focused on high-performance sport. Now is the time to be focused on what’s going on in the health of the country.”https://t.co/IwqEcSeJLy
"It is serious and it's ramping up...my family is doing what we need to do to stay safe.'
— Cheryl Preheim (@CherylPreheim) March 23, 2020
Fastest man in the world @__coleman, from ATL, says he'll keep training to be ready whenever the #Olympics happen.
Reports today they *will be postponed. #11Alive pic.twitter.com/tNrwQHlaHV
Gold medalist Jenn Suhr: Coronavirus hardships 'bigger than the Olympic Games' https://t.co/kTKImUMupG #ROC
— Democrat & Chronicle (@DandC) March 23, 2020
The Olympic Games #Tokio2020 will be postponed due to #COVIDー19
— Gesa Krause (@GesaFK) March 23, 2020
I saw it coming, but I simply can’t believe it!https://t.co/PnjHMVXVai
Decision is not a surprise: qualification events cancelled globally, Olympic and Paralympic training facilities have closed their doors to hundreds of athletes here in the US, and there is much we simply don’t know about this novel virus and whether it will in fact come in waves
— Carolyn Manno (@carolynmanno) March 23, 2020
Athletes across the world are quarantined in their homes, unable to train. They are going show up to the Olympics like Thor in Endgame pic.twitter.com/ktDpfJoZT8
— Lolo Jones (@lolojones) March 21, 2020
Memo to people asking why the 2020 Olympics need to be postponed now: It's not about whether they can actually happen in July (doubtful anyway), it's that the athletes can no longer train on anything that resembles a level playing field, and impossible to hold selection trials.
— Ryan Heath (@PoliticoRyan) March 23, 2020
So tough, but thank goodness it isn’t cancelled! Thinking of the @USASoftballWNT and other Olympic friends through this... https://t.co/cWATwsvd7q
— Lauren Chamberlain (@LChamberlain44) March 23, 2020
I’ve been so damn impressed talking to the few Canadian MTB Olympic hopefuls about the decision to not take part in the Games unless they postpone to 2021. Super composed, thoughtful racers with impressively strong outlooks on the situation + their training plans going forward.
— Molly Hurford (@mollyjhurford) March 23, 2020
Glad to hear the IOC is postponing the Olympics but to make up for it, can they upload full event replays of all previous Olympics to watch while we’re in quarantine?
— Yulin Kuang (@YulinKuang) March 23, 2020
Is this now a collector’s item? #Olympics pic.twitter.com/768fx2G3ez
— Mark Poulose (@MarkPoulose) March 23, 2020