Opinion: Olympics should be postponed

By Ed Piper

I'm of the mind, four months before the scheduled start of the Japan Olympics, that they should be postponed until 2021.

My reasons lie with the athletes, who can't properly continue to prepare under the restrictions that we're putting on them due to the spread of the coronavirus.

On Fri., March 20 (three days before this writing), USA Swimming make a public appeal for the Games to be postponed.

The next day, March 21, USA Track and Field issued a similar call. Swimming and track are two of the most prominent sports in the Summer Olympic Games.

Yesterday (March 22), Canada's Olympic program announced it won't send athletes if the Games are held this year.

Other athletes and officials have made similar statements. In view of the fact we know the next few weeks are cloudy, and it's more likely that several weeks after that won't be free of restrictions, either, I think it's better to follow suit with the other major sports entities (NBA, NHL, MSL, MLB, rugby, tennis, etc.) and put a hold on play.

But with the Olympics, a huge event every four years, the compromised conditions for athletes from all nations to do their training make sense to decide now: Wait until 2021, and give everyone a chance to train without uncertainty over their heads.

Sports fans planning to go, too, won't have to worry about whether their travel plans will be upended. Just the number of officials and support to carry on the Games is staggering. We can't be certain their coming together and interaction won't cause further problems.

This is one of those events that is unprecedented in the past 100 years. (In 1918, there was a major outbreak.) Let's treat it that way, as we attempt to get perspective on the magnitude of the COVID-19 occurrence. Italy just reported nearly 800 deaths from the coronavirus in one day. Louisiana became another state in the U.S. having to go to shelter-in-place, curtailing all "non-essential" activities.

Postponing the Olympics until 2021 isn't without its complications. Some sports have major events already scheduled. There would be doubling-up there. Scheduling can be adjusted. These things can be worked out, in view of the one-time nature of this crisis.

Cancelling doesn't seem necessary. Broadcast companies (NBC is the giant who has committed billions) and sponsors don't seem to be pushing for that.

Waiting weeks to make a final decision, as Thomas Bach of the International Olympic Committee has said they will do, I don't see as totally irresponsible. To me, it smacks a little of putting emphasis on the money, despite Olympic officials' statements that "finances are not driving the decision". When have you seen organizations, including sports entities, make decisions irrespective of the dollar sign?

Let the Games...be put off until next year, for their integrity, but more importantly, for the good of all.