Delayed until 2021.. but it will now have new symbolic significance
THERE has been a new Olympic motto knocking around over these past couple of weeks… slower, lower, weaker.
We will leave it to the International Olympic Committee to come up with the Latin translation.
After all, along with the Japanese organisers of Tokyo 2020, the IOC thinking has come over as pretty ancient.
Basically, it amounted to holding on and hoping for some sort of miracle, while putting athletes and competitors from all over the world through the emotional wringer.
Blimey, even Donald Trump knew the Games were up a couple of weeks ago when he suggested they should be put on hold.
Knowing the amount of organisation that goes into an Olympic Games, knowing how thousands of Japanese people had already dedicated their lives to it (and that is before the 80,000 volunteers were to begin training), the postponement is saddening.
But the decision to delay the Games for a year – announced by Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe yesterday – was way overdue.
At least it was the right one, albeit – apart from cancellation – the only one.
And now the Games staged in 2021 will not only be the greatest show on earth, they will have symbolic significance.
After the world has come through this crisis, it will be determined to live up to that Olympic motto.
Citius, Altius, Fortius. Faster, Higher, Stronger.
And Tokyo, in the summer of 2021, will provide the perfect place to do just that.
THE postponement, following on from the loss of Euro 2020, is a major setback for the Olympic rights-holding BBC.
The Beeb would have flooded two channels with live coverage and highlights packages from July 24 to August 9.
It is even more costly for American host broadcaster NBC which in 2014 agreed a US$7.75 billion deal for broadcast rights to the Games up to and including 2032. NBC’s previous agreement, negotiated in 2011, included four Olympics through 2020 and cost the network US$4.4 billion.
Channel 4 will be similarly hurting about the loss of the Paralympics, which it was due to host for a third time.
JEMMA REEKIE is the rising star of British athletics.
The 22-year-old middle distance runner from Scotland (below) broke the British 800m,
1500m and mile records indoors this year.
Refusing to be downbeat about the postponement, she tweeted: “I am going to use this extra year to get faster, stronger and fitter for the Olympics.
“I will use the hunger and excitement to push myself and make every minute count.
“Stay safe, be sensible and do what we are told. This will come to an end.”
TONI MINICHIELLO, who coached Jess EnnisHill to 2012 Olympic glory, describes the postponement as a “fairly big inconvenience to a career, more than just one year”.
“At least the uncertainty is now removed,” Minichiello (below) said. “You can look forward to having a proper winter and getting preparation spot-on for next summer.
“But you have to feel for athletes like Jemma Reekie who showed great form indoors and looked really good for the Olympics. “That form now means nothing because we all start on zero whenever it is we resume. “It changes the landscape completely. By 2021 those we earmarked as being a superstar this year is one year older while up-andcoming athletes get another year to develop into their prime.”
In the end of this year’s Six Nations was postponed, with four outstanding fixtures to be rearranged.
In Euro 2020 was postponed and will be played in 2021, while the sport is suspended in the UK until April 30 at the earliest.
The first eight grands prix of the season have been delayed, with the Monaco Grand Prix cancelled. in England and Wales won’t be played before May 28, while England’s Test series against the West Indies, due to start at The Oval on June 4, is in doubt.
All professional has been postponed until June 7, ruling out the clay-court season, while the French Open has been pencilled in for September.
Masters and US PGA Championship have been postponed, with a decision yet to be made about Cup.HO September’s Ryder
The has been moved from April 26 to October 4.