OLYMPICS DECISION FINALLY GIVES CLARITY TO ATHLETES
NOW to the hottest topic in world sport.
After weeks of the International Olympic Committee insisting the Tokyo Games would either take place or be cancelled, national federations increasingly placed the IOC under fire with athletes and the community also giving heavy criticism.
A one-year postponement has finally been decided upon.
At long last there is clarity about when the Tokyo Games will occur.
Many athletes have struggled to train and prepare for the Olympics due to isolation, competitions cancelled, training venues closing and travel cancelled while also following safety warnings from governments and public health officials.
Let’s face it, sport has been full of uncertainty. The AFL, NRL, AWFL and A-League have all been suspended or cancelled in the past week.
The postponement of the biggest show on earth was an inevitable decision that had to be made.
Japan deserved better than to be held in limbo for such a long time.
On Monday, the pressure started to ramp up when Canada announced they were going to withdraw their team from Tokyo. Next came New Zealand, then Australia followed suit.
This was the only way to give clarity to athletes who have been caught in nevernever land.
My thoughts are with those athletes who have had their eye and heart set on the Olympics and Paralympics in all sports.
In track and field, I also feel for those young athletes who had their hearts set on travelling to Kenya for the under-20 world titles.
For some, it was their only chance to compete at these championships because they will be too old in two years. They now have to aim at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
For some athletes the postponement means extra time to achieve qualifiers.
For others the story could well be different because 2020 might have been their last hoorah to the Olympics; it could mean retirement without achieving their final dream.
This decision will be greeted with mixed reactions from athletes. For some, there would be relief – they can now concentrate on their private lives, their health and their families as they have struggled with the ambiguity of selection and preparation.
For others, I am sure they will be looking forward to having the opportunity to stay home in Australia, instead of travelling, and achieve a good winter preparation. A great opportunity to rediscover their competitive drive.
With the decision now made, athletes can test where they are at, reset their goals and build for an exciting 2021.
Athletes have a chance to look at their strengths and weaknesses and address where they think improvement will come.
An extra 12 months will enable athletes to be stronger, bigger, defined, faster.
With the competition season now over and no immediate direction and dreams lost, an athlete’s resilience will be tested.
It could well be the best thing that has never happened.
Japan 2021 will be a celebration of what was supposed to be. An incredibly emotional Tokyo Olympics is set to be staged in 2021.
This week has been an important step to providing clarity for athletes.
With so much ambiguity surrounding Tokyo, I am proud to be Australian and look forward to the next 12 months leading up to the Games.
Some positivity at long last in a time of unprecedented happenings in our society.