As Americans sit at home, awaiting the brunt of this coronavirus storm, many of us likely wish that we had sports to fall back on.
But, alas, the crowds gathered both on and off the field are not a good idea during this trying time. We’re trying to starve a global pandemic – the last thing we need is a mass of sweat flinging, beer spilling, finger-licking humanity packed into some cramped stadium seating.
MLB, MLS, NHL, NASCAR – you name it. The moment that the NBA postponed its season indefinitely, the gears were turning for the others.
Today, the great grand-daddy of the sports world finally succumbed to the current wave of reality.
Veteran International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound told USA TODAY Sports on Monday afternoon that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games are going to be postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided,” Pound said in a phone interview. “The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.”
Pound, a Canadian who has been one of the most influential members of the IOC for decades, said the games will likely be moved to 2021, with the details to be worked out in the next four weeks. He said he expects the IOC to announce its next steps soon.
“It will come in stages,” said Pound, 78, the longest-serving IOC member. “We will postpone this and begin to deal with all the ramifications of moving this, which are immense.”
While the move certainly isn’t a surprise to anyone, the amount of serious deliberation that it takes to move an event such as the Olympics should be reason enough for the rest of us to sit up and pay attention to the experts on this.
