The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics begin on Tuesday, August 24 2021 and conclude on Sunday, September 5 2021. The Paralympics take place a fortnight after the Olympics has finished. Athletes competing in the Paralympics will hope any rise in coronavirus cases as a result of the Olympics will not prompt a drastic decision on their Games being postponed again or cancelled.

 

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games had previously announced that it would limit spectators to just 10,000 people per venue. However, with a recent spike in Covid-19 cases and as Tokyo went into another state of emergency from Monday July 12 that will last for six weeks, the Olympic organisers and the Japanese government have instead decided to hold the Games without any spectators.

 

Covid measures for visiting athletes?

 

International athletes and support staff will be tested before departure and on arrival in Japan. UK athletes will be required to stay within their Team GB bubble for at least the first three days in the country. They will be tested every day.

Athletes don’t have to be vaccinated, though International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials expect around 80% of athletes in attendance will be.

 

 

 

Although the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been moved to 2021, the ambitious and visionary plans that Japan had in place for this spectacular event remain in place. The year may have changed, but the hope is to deliver exactly what was promised for 2020.

 

 

 

Keep up to date with the latest Olympic news for all new stories and updates about the Tokyo Games here: https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/