The Olympic Games in Tokyo will take place from 23rd July 2021

The International Olympic Committee, the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the government of Japan and representatives of the Tokyo city government have agreed that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad will take place from 23rd July to 8th August 2021. “It is good news for everyone that we now know the target date that we can prepare for,” said Jiří Kejval, President of the Czech Olympic Committee. “Postponing the Olympic Games by a year later is a logical step for many reasons. It provides the organisers and other interested parties with the maximum possible time to prepare in the current situation, which remains uncertain, and will permit the completion of qualification, and also minimise impact on the sporting calendar.”

In recent days the International Olympic Committee has confirmed that the qualification places already filled (57% in total) will remain valid. “And the quick publication of the new dates is good for athletes as they now have a fixed date to which they can reset their preparations. We have communicated with them together with the Athletes’ Commission of the Czech NOC; some athletes would have preferred the spring, but overall, the summer dates are most suitable. We hope that things will soon return to normal in our society so that athletes will also be able to train as normal,“ said Martin Doktor, Sport Director of the Czech NOC and Chef de Mission. “With regards to preparations, we will move forward based on the new deadlines that the Organisation Committee gives us. A number of things are already in progress, some things we have already prepared and we will put them on ice for a year, whilst other things will simply have to be delayed.”

The International Olympic Committee discussed the rescheduled dates with the organisers, and also with international sports federations, national Olympic committees and athlete representatives. “I am confident that together we can master this unprecedented challenge. Humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be a light at the end of this tunnel.” said Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee. You can find further information on the new dates HERE.