The International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee have confirmed the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to dates to be determined in the northern summer of 2021.
This announcement will have varying and yet to be determined impacts on the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago and will require alterations to planning to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Please see below for statements from Commonwealth Games Australia and the Commonwealth Games Federation.
STATEMENT FROM COMMONWEALTH GAMES AUSTRALIA
Our thoughts are with all athletes impacted by the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and our colleagues at our member sports, the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, Sport Australia and the National Institute Network, along with our many friends in the International Federations who are dealing with such uncertain and difficult times.
Many of our fellow Commonwealth Games Associations are also the National Olympic Committees and our thoughts are with them as they navigate the uncertain future.
What this means for the preparations and future of the next edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games, scheduled for August 2021, remains unclear. And our plans will be shaped by future announcements.
Our plans for Birmingham 2022 continue, albeit with some changes due to the inevitable and unavoidable postponement of upcoming visits and other activities which would normally be held in the countdown to a Games.
However, time is on our side for now, and as best as possible we will prepare for an Australian team expected to number over 400 athletes to have a great Games in Birmingham.
Our team motto from the Gold Coast has never been more applicable – #GreaterTogether.
Petria Thomas OAM – Chef de Mission, Team Australia, Birmingham 2022
Ben Houston – President
Craig Phillips – Chief Executive Officer
STATEMENT FROM COMMONWEALTH GAMES FEDERATION
The CGF welcomes the joint decision taken by the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee to reschedule the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games to no later than the summer of 2021. Given the global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus, it was the correct decision to respect and protect the safety and performances of competing athletes.
The postponement of the Olympics and Paralympics, as well as other major international sporting events, has and will continue to have a huge impact on the global sporting calendar in the coming years.
For the Commonwealth Sport Movement, the Olympics could now take place in close proximity to the Trinbago 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. For this island state, preparations for the event have already been impacted by the dramatic increase in cases of COVID-19 in the region as well as the instability of the global economy.
We will continue to work closely with our friends and partners in Trinidad and Tobago to assess the delivery options for the Commonwealth Youth Games.
We also remain fully committed to hosting a successful Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England during 2022. Over the coming weeks, we will continue to work collaboratively with International Federation partners to ensure the XXII Commonwealth Games maintains its position and stature on the global sporting calendar.
David Grevemberg CBE – Chief Executive Officer
