The Australia U-23’s and Westfield Matildas have learned when they will compete at the Tokyo Olympic games after the International Olympic Committee (IOC), The Government Of Japan and the event’s stakeholders agreed the new dates on Monday.
The earlier announcement by the IOC last week outlined the importance of rescheduling the event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The rescheduled games will commence from the 23rd July and will close on the 8th August 2021.
The IOC has confirmed all athletes and quota places already assigned for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will remain unchanged.
The new schedule is designed to align with the three main considerations and principles established by the IOC Executive Board. These include:
1. To protect the health of the athletes and everyone involved, and to support the containment of the COVID-19 virus.
2. To safeguard the interests of the athletes and of Olympic sport.
3. The global international sports calendar
The IOC President Thomas Bach announced the decision in a press conference saying:
“I want to thank the International Federations for their unanimous support and the Continental Associations of National Olympic Committees for the great partnership and their support in the consultation process over the last few days.”
Bach reaffirmed his optimism for the games going ahead in 2021.
“I am confident that, working together with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Government and all our stakeholders, 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,” IOC President Thomas Bach stated.
