After facing tremendous pressure and increase in athlete opposition, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Japanese officials have agreed to postpone the Olympics and Paralympics till 2021 in the wake of rising COVID-19 pandemic.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Japanese officials have postponed the Olympics and Paralympics till 2021 in the wake of rising COVID-19 pandemic.

The virus which has claimed more than 16,000 lives, affected six of the seven continents spreads mainly from person-to-person. Hence, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

Coronavirus has disrupted daily lives and has forced either the postponement or cancellation of some of the major events in the world.

The Olympics have previously only been cancelled completely during periods of World War – in 1916, 1940 and 1944 – but never suspended or postponed.

The United States Olympic Committee had last night joined the British Olympic Association, and the Olympic Committees in Canada, Germany, Australia, Brazil and Norway in calling for a postponement.

Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister, Japan said, “I proposed to postpone for a year and the event will still be called Tokyo 2020 despite taking place in 2021.”

This postponement will also make other international sporting organisations to rearrange the sporting calendar. This would eventually mean that the next World Athletics Championships, scheduled for 2021 could also be postponed.

These events are enough to make us realise how grave is and the situation can get worse if necessary precautions are not taken. Washing hands regularly, keeping ourselves clean is the need of the hour and most important stay home, decrease physical proximity and increase digital proximity.

Image Credit: @tokyo2020