Bach seeks time for answers Postponed Tokyo Olympics gives wrestler Narsingh Yadav new hope
OLYMPIC BLUES Historic postponement throws up plenty of questions on qualification, scheduling and sponsors
nMUMBAI:THOMAS Bach, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, said fresh dates for the 2021 Olympics will be decided by a task force comprising the IOC’S Coordination Commission and the organising committee of the Games in Tokyo.
“This needs consultation with the 33 international federations. We will have telephone conference by tomorrow (Thursday). We, of course, will have to take into account the sports calendar around the Olympic Games and many, many other issues,” said Bach on Wednesday at a teleconference with 400 journalists from around the world.
“We should come to a solution as soon as possible but…we have to take the inputs of all stakeholders into account—the National Olympic Committees (NOCS), the athletes, the partner (sponsors) and, of course, the organising committee, which is a key to this (process).”
A former Olympic fencer, Bach said that a lot of sacrifices, financial included, would need to be made while rescheduling the Games deferred this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“A one-year postponement might impact the career, qualification and plans of some athletes, which would be addressed in the coming months and all necessary support would also be extended by us,” said Indian Olympic Association secretary Rajeev Mehta in New Delhi.
While the IOC’S task force, ‘Here We Go’, gets to work, questions about the qualification process and more continue to swirl.
The Tokyo 2020 postponement was no surprise, but the International Olympic Committee and Japan face a Herculean task to redraw plans to stage the mega event next year while athletes go back to the drawing board. A look at the various issues.
How will the Games be reorganised?
A special taskforce called “Here We Go” has been set up to tackle the logistics of reorganising Tokyo 2020 next year. “The agreement is that we want to organise these Games at the latest in the summer 2021,” IOC president, Thomas Bach said on Wednesday. The Games won’t be restricted only to the summer months.
What does it mean for athletes?
Olympics being the pinnacle of competition, elite athletes prepare to a four-year cycle and the postponement will affect their preparations. But many have found it tough as training venues are shut worldwide, and this gives them breathing space. Seasoned competitors who had targetted this year’s Games as a swansong could find it tough to peak again almost a year down the line, provided it happens .
What are the financial implications?
Bach said “sacrifices and compromises” will be needed to stage the Games. There is a big question mark over the athletes’ village--the apartments were to be sold after the Games this year—and the task force will address such issues. The IOC has insurance for potential disruptions to the Games, and about $2 billion in reserve to keep itself (and its membership) afloat until its next big payday.
NBC, which owns the American broadcasting rights, also has insurance. The company is in the sixth year of a $7.75 billion deal with the IOC, which will run through 2032. IOC'S top sponsors, such as P&G and Visa, pay millions for the rights.
The Japanese economy will probably take the biggest hit. Japan spent about $28 billion to host these Games, according to AP, and was anticipating an economic uptick with spectators flying in from around the world. Some of the money the local government had spent to host the Games might be needed in 2021, to do it all over again.
nNEWDELHI:ONE Indian athlete will not be complaining about the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics. Narsingh Pancham Yadav. The wrestler is currently at the end of a four-year doping ban that came into effect during the Rio Olympics in 2016. With the ban set to finish in July this year, Yadav has plenty to hope for.
“It is destiny that this opportunity has come my way,” Yadav told HT on Wednesday. “This is not the time to feel elated because the world and our country are battling a big crisis. But yes, I will be looking to make a return to the mat the moment the ban is over.”
Yadav was all set to miss the Olympics in July and August this year. Then the Covid-19 outbreak happened. But he says that he has been training hard regardless of that fact. “Now that the Olympics is postponed, if I get an opportunity to represent the country I will want to win a medal for the country in Tokyo,” he said.
“I know it will be a challenge to compete at that level (again), but I am training well and I have the experience. I have not been in touch with the federation but once things get better I will talk to them,” he added.
Yadav’s claim to fame was an infamous one. Back in 2016, Yadav and double Olympic-medallist Sushil Kumar were engaged in a bitter and controversial court-battle, with both vying for the only spot to represent India in the 74kg category at the Rio Olympics that year.
Back then, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had backed Yadav after he sealed an Olympic berth in the World Championships. However, in the eleventh hour, Yadav tested positive for methandienone. And to cut a long story short, the Court of Arbitration for Sport decided to hand Yadav a four-year ban.
Yadav, who works for Mumbai Police, said that the support of his family kept him going during the tough period. “It has been a testing time for me right through these four years,” he said. “But I had the support of my family and coach and also Mumbai Police. And I also continued to keep myself fit and competed in dangals.” Yadav is certain that he would still want to fight in the same category that he eventually missed out on four years ago – 74kg. If he does make a return, it will result in an interesting three-way battle for the berth—between him, Sushil and Jitender Kumar, the man who won those trials for the category.
When contacted, the WFI said that if Yadav wants to make a comeback he will be given a fair opportunity. “If Narsingh wants to participate then federation will give him a chance,” said Vinod Tomar, WFI’S assistant secretary. “Now that the Olympics are postponed for a year, there will be some time before the qualification tournaments start. We will decide once the picture is clear.”
Even in a hypothetical situation of IPL taking place without foreigners, the important question will be whether the nine match venues would be ready. With no maintenance possible due to the nationwide lockdown, it can be a Herculean task.