When COVID-19 truly took hold of the globe back in March, the International Olympics Committee made the unsettling (but necessary) decision to postpone the date of the 2020 Olympic Games set to be held in Tokyo. The Games were promised to be held next year, and the IOC has upheld that promise, officially rescheduling the 2020 Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo on July 23, 2021.

According to an announcement issued by the IOC’s Vice President John Coates, the Games are set to take place “with or without COVID-19”. While we are excited to see the games take place (they always make me emotional) we are hoping that this comment is in the spirit of optimism, and the hope that the virus will be controlled by this point. In the case COVID-19 isn't under control, our hope is that the IOC will take appropriate measures to protect the wellbeing of all involved.

The games will take place from July 23 through to August 8, while the Paralympics have been rescheduled to take place on August 24, 2021 and end on September 5.

“Humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. These Olympic Games can be a light at the end of this tunnel” the IOC President explained during a press conference earlier in the year. As reported by Sora News 24, Coates Echoed Bach's statement in a recent press conference which announced the new dates, stating that the upcoming event will be known as “the Games that conquered COVID, and the light at the end of the tunnel”. In the same statement, Coates added that, “the Games were going to be, their theme, the Reconstruction Games after the devastation of the tsunami”.

If the games do go ahead as Coates has vehemently promised, we will look forward to tuning in on July 23 for all the action.

Image credit: @olympics