The Olympic Games that were originally planned to take place in the summer of 2020 have been pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic to take place in the summer of 2021. Since, the updated time of these Olympic Games, Tokyo has shown that the Games may still be possible in a pandemic world after hosting a one-day gym meet. This meet included international athletes from the US, China, Russia, and Japan as well it welcomed over several thousand fans. Kohei Uchimura, a three-time Japanese gold medal gymnast said that 80% of the Japanese people don’t believe that the Games can happen because of COVID-19. The Olympic Games involve 206 nations with more than 11000 athletes, and 4400 para-athletes as well as thousands of judges, officials, and broadcasters. With larger numbers of athletes and personnel there is no question that hosting the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games will be a difficult task.

The author of “Subjecting pandemic sport to a sociological procedure” say that “sport has occupied a prominent position among the multiple issues that COVID-19 has raised”. They say that there have been great public and media discussions on the cancellation of sporting events, especially the major sports that involve men. The cancellation of sporting events is said to have effects on the psycho-social health of nations.  

If the Olympic Games don’t happen in the summer of 2021, there’s a possibility that Tokyo won’t get to host the summer Games that they have prepared so hard for. These potential cancellations can lead to economic and psycho-social issues for all involved. 

Rohan D 

Feature Image: Tokyo Olympics games have been postponed until the summer of 2021 (Source)