New Date For Tokyo Olympic Games Announced

The International Olympic Committee has announced the new date for the canceled Tokyo Olympic Games which can no longer be happening this year over the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus outbreak has forced many sporting events to either change dates or suspend events until next year. In a measure to ensure the health and safety of everyone from contracting the virus at the Games, the IOC reached an agreement on holding the events on 23 July through 8 August 2021 after an executive meeting.

Last week, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe communicated with the IOC president Thomas Bach over postponing the Games after the United States President Donald Trump demanded that the event be canceled this year considering the on-going global outbreak of coronavirus.

"Humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be a light at the end of the tunnel," said Bach in a statement.

Meanwhile, Great Britain, Australia, and Canada had threatened not to participate if the organizers remain adamant about holding the event in summer. The Games will yet be addressed as Toyko 2020 despite being suspended until July 2021.

Tokyo 2020 president Mori Yoshiro commended all the stakeholders for coming up with the new date which he hopes will help the country prepare better for the Games. He said in a statement, "I am convinced that taking this decision promptly will help speed up future preparations."