Published 14:41 IST, March 25th 2020
Have the Olympics ever been delayed in the past? A look at the Olympics' history
Have the Olympics ever been delayed? With coronavirus delaying the 2020 Summer Olympics, here's a look at the other times the global games have been delayed.
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It has been confirmed by an International Olympic Committee (IOC) official and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are postponed for at least a year. This is a direct consequence of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the globe. Prior to the postponement, Canada and Germany had already gone public with their desire to boycott the games due to the coronavirus pandemic that has engulfed the globe. With the 2020 Olympics postponed, many are wondering, have the Olympics ever been delayed in the past?
Olympics 2021
2020 Olympics postponed at least for a year
🚨 OLYMPICS STATUS UPDATE!
— The Bridge (@TheBridge_IN) March 24, 2020
"I think the one-year postponement is the most feasible because it gives you the most time to organise"
- Senior IOC Official Dick Pound#Olympics2021
📝Read full story here:https://t.co/Clk1vKTwVp
Olympics 2021
Have the Olympics ever been delayed?
So finally the IOC has decided to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the #covid19 pandemic.
— Shahnon Salleh (@shahnonsalleh) March 24, 2020
Trivia: This is not the first time. 80 years ago, the 1940 Olympics - in Tokyo - was cancelled because of the World War II. pic.twitter.com/yHNSG2lQEi
Also Read | India issues first response as Canada, Australia threaten walkout as 2020 Olympics postponed
Olympics 2021 is the fourth time that the quadrennial has been delayed due to various reasons. The other three times that the Olympics were delayed were due to World War I and World War II. On all three occasions, the Olympics were cancelled due to global wars. The three occasions on which the Olympics were called off in the past are:
- 1916 Summer Olympics
- The 1940 Summer and Winter Olympics
- The 1944 Summer and Winter Olympics
Olympics 2021
Coronavirus latest updates: 2020 Olympics postponed
Coronavirus latest:
— Bloomberg (@business) March 24, 2020
• Confirmed cases top 383,000
• 16,595 deaths worldwide
• Spain reports 514 dead in 24 hours
• Germany weighs stimulus plan
* Australia shuts malls, restricts weddings
• IOC member says Olympics will be postponed https://t.co/IQKPItaXJN
Also Read | Spanish athletes want 2020 Olympics postponed
14:41 IST, March 25th 2020