Summer games in Japan: Olympia stays in hot summer time

It is now time to plan: the new Tokyo date was only six days after the Olympic cancellation for this summer. The Summer Games from July 23 to August 8, 2021 and the following Paralympics are to be celebrated in Japan's capital.

Tokyo (AP) - The Olympic Games, which have been postponed to the next year because of the corona pandemic, will be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021 - almost exactly one year after the original date.

"Humanity is currently in a dark tunnel. These Tokyo Olympics can be a light at the end of this tunnel," said Thomas Bach, head of the International Olympic Committee.

A YEAR LATER - OLD DATE, GOOD DATE? "A great opportunity was wasted," says Friedhelm Julius Beucher, President of the German Disabled Sports Association, to the Sky Sport News TV station. The 73-year-old SPD politician was the chairman of the sports committee for a long time. Beucher alludes to the high humidity in Japan's capital, which is particularly hard on endurance athletes - the marathons therefore take place in Sapporo. "With all due respect, with all the joy that was finally postponed, I see that this aspect has simply been left behind," said the official. Beucher speculates that television rights would not have been worth so much at a better time for the athletes. "They couldn't have achieved these prices in autumn, where that would have belonged."

Marisol Casado, the president of the World Triathlon Federation, "would have preferred" to postpone the matches to avoid the heat. "But we agreed that this data is the best solution for all sports, athletes and international sports associations. We therefore support the decision wholeheartedly."

TELEVISION: "We are pleased that the IOC and Tokyo 2020 have quickly rescheduled the Olympic Games. This gives everyone involved security - especially the athletes, fans and partners. We look forward to a great sports summer 2021," said the American media group Discovery with its subsidiary Eurosport as TV rights holder.

THE INVOICE: The AP news agency calculated that the IOC would receive 73 percent of its $ 5.7 billion in revenue in a four-year Olympic cycle from the sale of TV broadcasting rights. About half of this TV revenue comes from the American broadcaster NBC. "American television has agreed," said Francesco Ricci Bitti, president of the 33 summer Olympic sports. "The professional calendar is no longer geared towards athletes, it is geared towards business."

IMPACT: The World Athletics Championships planned for August 2021 in Eugene / USA was postponed to 2022. "Everyone needs to be flexible and willing to compromise, and for that purpose we are now working with the organizers of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon on new dates in 2022," said the World Athletics Association.

The Swimming World Championships planned in Fukuoka / Japan from July 16 to August 1, 2021 must also be relocated. The swimming world association FINA announced consultations. "FINA will also consult with interest groups such as athletes, trainers, national associations, television partners and sponsors to determine the best possible solution," said a FINA announcement.

FREUDE: "I also think this termination is correct with regard to the coronavirus pandemic, because hopefully at 16 months there will be enough time to develop vaccines and guarantee everyone's health and thus equal opportunities," said water jumper Patrick Hausding.

STARS CAN COME: "At a different date, many sports - especially professional sports - would not have been available," said Ricci Bitti. The NBA basketball stars, Major League Baseball, golfers, and tennis players - they all would have had a different date.