Desert of doubt

Paris is scheduled to host the 2024 Olympics and four years later, Los Angeles will take its third turn to stage the Summer Games. But what if the Olympics won’t push through in Tokyo next year? It’s been virtually decided that another postponement of the 2020 Games, originally slated on July 24-Aug. 9 this year, will mean closing the curtains on the Tokyo edition for this Olympic cycle. The Tokyo Olympics were reset to July 23-Aug. 8 next year but if no vaccine for COVID-19 is found and the pandemic continues to be a global threat, the probability is the Games will be cancelled.

If the Tokyo Games are called off, then the IOC will forfeit one four-year cycle, meaning a huge opportunity loss in advertising revenue and sponsorships. A cancellation will mean the first Olympic shutdown not because of a world war although in a sense, it is a war that the world is waging against the coronavirus.

Last week, the IOC postponed the 2022 Youth Olympic Games in Dakkar, Senegal, to 2026, a four-year jump. If Senegal were to stage the Youth Olympics, the IOC would’ve chosen among Colombia, India, Russia and Thailand to host the 2026 version. But as no country has been designated to hold the 2026 Youth Olympics, the postponement will give Dakkar another four years to prepare for the Games.  If the Youth Olympics were to be held in 2022, it would mean the IOC supervising five Games in two years – the Tokyo Games on July 23-Aug. 8, 2021, the Tokyo Paralympics on Aug. 24-Sept. 5, 2021, the Special Olympic Winter Games in Kazan, Russia, on Jan 22-28, 2022, the Beijing Winter Olympics on Feb. 4-20, 2022 and the Youth Olympics in Dakkar on Oct. 22-Nov. 9, 2022. That’s a load on the IOC’s plate.

It wasn’t too difficult to postpone the 2022 Youth Olympics for four years because no host country had been designated for 2026 and there isn’t too much sponsorship money involved. But it’s different with the Summer Games. Paris is next in line in 2024 then Los Angeles. If the Olympics are cancelled next year, the IOC should award the hosting rights for 2024 to Tokyo, move Paris to 2028 and Los Angeles to 2032. That would only be fair. Paris has to budge and Los Angeles, too.

The last Asian country to host the Olympics was China in 2008. After London and Rio de Janiero, the Olympics will be back in Asia. “It’s Asia’s turn once again,” said POC first vice president Joey Romasanta. “If the Olympics are cancelled next year, it would be unfair to Japan if Tokyo isn’t given the chance to host in 2024.  The infrastructure for the Tokyo Olympics is ready. I’ve seen the Athletes Village which has a beautiful harbor view and across the river is the famous fish market. Pushing back the host cities is fair. Asia can’t wait another eight or 12 years to host. Kawawa naman ang Japan if it’s bypassed after spending so much for the Tokyo Olympics.  The pandemic isn’t Tokyo’s fault.”

Romasanta said the possibility of cancelling the Olympics isn’t remote. “Imagine if the Olympics are held and there will be little time for athletes to train because of lockdowns all over the world,” he said. “One of the most exciting things about the Olympics is the anticipation of breaking world and Olympic records, marking new feats. But can we expect new records to be broken if the Olympics push through next year? Will they reduce the number of athletes and events to lessen the incidence of transmission?”

COVID-19 has transformed the sports landscape from a field of dreams to a desert of doubt. No one knows when the world will be business as usual again, when the ball parks will reopen to full capacity, when contact sports will be given the green light without fear of contaminating athletes. The Olympics have been reset to next year but it’s still a question mark if the Games will be staged. Whatever happens, let’s hope that those who’ve been prejudiced by this pandemic are given first crack to recoup their losses when things are back to normal.