Report: Olympics to be postponed to 2021 over coronavirus pandemic

A man walks past a large banner promoting the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Monday, March 23, 2020. The IOC will take up to four weeks to consider postponing the Tokyo Olympics amid mounting criticism of its handling of the coronavirus crisis that now includes Canada saying it won't send a team to the games this year and the leader of track and field, the biggest sport at the games, also calling for a delay. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong, Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The Tokyo Olympics are set to be postponed as the coronavirus pandemic continues to keep the world on a shutdown, USA Today reported Monday.

International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound told the media outlet that the 2020 Tokyo Games would likely be postponed to 2021.

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“On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided,” Pound said in a phone interview to 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.”

On Sunday, Canada announced that it would not send athletes to the Games as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreck havoc across the world.


About the Author:

Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years.