What COVID means for the 2021 Olympic Games
[IOC President Thomas Bach, saying:] "The Olympic Games are the most complex event on this planet.”
A one-year countdown has begun to the 2021 Olympic Games, a more muted affair than the first attempt 12 months ago.
On July 24 last year, a glitzy ceremony promised an unforgettable spectacle.
Even six months ago, organisers were still bullish - determined for a return on their huge financial investment.
Just two months later however, plans that had been almost a decade in the making were shredded, as a health crisis gripped the world.
The unprecedented decision was made to postpone for a year but the Games are still shrouded in uncertainty.
[British former track cyclist and Olympic medalist Callum Skinner, saying:] “ I think it's quite often misunderstood that athletes, especially Olympic athletes, are some kind of superheroes that are immune to everything. We're not.”
[IOC President Thomas Bach, saying:] "We are facing an unprecedented challenge again now because this postponement is the first ever postponement of an Olympic Games in Olympic history.”
A mountain of questions surround every aspect of hosting the mammoth event.
Coordinators say the 2021 Olympics will be simplified, reduced to ‘must haves’.
Over 200 measures will be reportedly needed to streamline the event.
How much that will cost Japan is anyone’s guess.
The Games already cost over $12.35 billion before the postponement.
Mounting costs risk alienating taxpayers, as the tide of public opinion turns away from the Games.
One third of the public believe they should be postponed again, according to a poll by Kyodo News.
Another third thought they should be cancelled outright.
Alongside cost, three other issues are at play.
Athlete safety, spectators and sponsorship.
[IOC President Thomas Bach, saying:] “We have to get together 11,000 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, in one place. Not only for doing sport and showing sporting excellence, but also living together in an Olympic Village, celebrating humanity together."
But expert after expert has questioned how this will be achieved without a vaccine.
[Infectious diseases expert at the University of Manitoba, Jason Kindrachuk, saying:] "Japan might be able to control this disease by next summer, and I wish we could, but I don't think that would happen everywhere on earth. In this regard, I'm very pessimistic about holding (the) Olympic Games next summer.”
The same is true of the desire to have crowds fill the stands.
[Infectious diseases expert at the University of Manitoba, Jason Kindrachuk, saying:] "If we're still in a position that we have to social distance, we can't necessarily have things like the Olympic Village or the participation of people, probably, in any fashion."
The loss of ticket revenue would be a major blow - and sponsors would likely follow.
A poll last month found two-thirds of corporate sponsors were undecided on whether to continue their support.
The challenges facing Olympics organisers are unprecedented.
But they’ll need answers for athletes, fans and sponsors soon.
