By: Clare Canavan

Although the International Olympic Committee (IOC)  has not published an official statement about the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Dick Pound, veteran International Olympic Committee member,  told USA TODAY Sports on Monday that the games will be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The 2020 Olympic Games were supposed to be held in Tokyo, Japan from Friday, July 24, 2020 to Sunday, August 9, 2020. 

According to a phone interview from Pound, “On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided. The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.” 

The IOC has been feeling pressures from countries and organizations around the world to postpone the Olympics. If the games were to be held on the original dates, Canada and Australia announced that they would not be sending athletes to Tokyo. Also, the United State’s organizations for swimming and track pushed the IOC for a postponement. 

Not only has the coronavirus outbreak effected the Olympic Games, the pandemic has interrupted the Olympic qualifications in countries. For example, the United States Wrestling Olympic trails were suppose to be held at Penn State University on Saturday and Sunday, April 4th and 5th, 2020. This event could not happen due to the University closing and dangers for the athletes health at this time. 

The IOC’s announcement to postpone the 2020 Olympics would be the first time the games would be postponed. The Olympics have been cancelled during World War I and World War II. 

According to Lolo Jones’, an American hurdler, Twitter Account, “I’ve had so many calls with athletes who have been in tears trying to train for their ultimate dream but not wanting to jeopardize their health. This was the right thing to do. May the world heal.”

jokes aside I’m so happy the Olympics was postponed. I was vocal for so many days. I’ve had so many calls with athletes who have been in tears trying to train for their ultimate dream but not wanting to jeopardize their health. This was the right thing to do. May the world heal

— Lolo Jones (@lolojones) March 23, 2020

There has been no announcement for when the games will be postponed to, but the official account of The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games announced in a tweet that they would take place no later than the summer of 2021.

To safeguard the health of the athletes and everyone involved in the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will now take place no later than summer 2021.

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) March 24, 2020