A new date for the postponed Olympic Games in Tokyo is to be presented in three weeks. It is a complex task for hosts Japan and the 33 international summer sports associations.
Frankfurt / Main (dpa) - Finding a new date for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which was postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, is as difficult as winning a gold medal.
Should they be made up for in spring or summer next year? It is difficult to find an ideal gap in the diary.
The pros and cons of a new 2021 Olympic event in Tokyo:
What does the shift mean for the 2021 sports calendar in general?
In the years without the Olympic Games, the 33 international summer sports associations usually host their world championships. By postponing the Tokyo games, the athletes would either have two highlights - or the World Cup battles would have to be postponed. Two major sporting events will also take place next year: the postponed European Football Championship will be held from June 11 to July 11 in twelve cities, including Munich, with 24 teams.
What is associated with an Olympic relocation in the summer of 2021?
In July and August the world championships for swimmers in Fukuoka / Japan (July 16 to August 1) and almost immediately afterwards those of athletes in Eugene / USA (August 6 to 15) are scheduled. The world associations of the two sports signaled that they were ready to relocate their world title matches. Before and after the conceivable new Olympic period, further World Cups are planned - such as those in Taekwondo, table tennis, rowing or road cycling. The Tour de France is scheduled from July 2nd to 25th. In the shadow of Olympia, cycling professionals will certainly not like to ride.
What speaks against the Olympics in July / August?
The postponement to an almost identical period as this year, for example from July 23 to August 8, 2021, would again be climatically critical. Japan and July are extremely hot. Therefore, the marathon competitions should be held this summer in the cooler Sapporo.
Why choose the Olympics in July / August?
The U.S. television network NBC is paying $ 12 billion to the International Olympic Committee for TV rights to the Olympic Games from 2014 to 2032. This is why NBC's interest in refinancing these billions with advertising is particularly high for a suitable Olympic date. July / August would be acceptable for NBC: All major U.S. sports like baseball have a summer break or are in the off-season. John Coates, head of the IOC coordination committee, also suggested that the preferred date could be between the Grand Slam tournaments in Wimbledon (late July 11) and New York (early August 30).
What about an appointment in spring?
Table tennis world president Thomas Weikert has "April or earlier suggest". Because the individual World Cup of his sport is planned for June 17-26, 2021 in Houston / USA. The World Cup in March 2020 had to be postponed to June 21-28. In the spring, heat and humidity would not play a role, but in this season the seasons in basketball (NBA) and ice hockey (NHL) come to an end in the USA; also the national professional football leagues as well as the European and Champions League games. Europe's handball boss Michael Wiederer also warned that spring is the middle of the season for all ball sports competitions.
When did previous Summer Olympics take place?
The preferred date for the summer games is July / August. There were exceptions mainly for climatic reasons: Melbourne 1956 from November 22 to December 8, Tokyo 1964 and Mexico 1968 in October. Seoul 1988 and Sydney 2000 took place in the last two weeks of September.
Facts about the Olympic Games since 1896 on olympic.org
Dates in German and international sports 2020 on dosb.de.
