Tokyo 2020 postponed: can Hong Kong benefit from IOC finally bowing to pressure and delaying the Games?

The postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was not unexpected after mounting pressure from heavyweight countries but it is still too early to say if Hong Kong can benefit from the decision, a top sports official said.

Hong Kong Olympic Committee secretary general Ronnie Wong Man-chiu said he was expecting the IOC decision sooner with more countries saying they would not take part in the 2020 Games unless it was postponed because of the global escalation of the coronavirus.

“Just last week, the IOC was not prepared to make any change, saying with more than four months to go before the Games there is no need for any drastic decision and any speculation would not be productive,” said Wong, a two-time Olympian swimmer – in Mexico City in 1968 and Munich in 1972.

“Then you can see the pressure comes one after one. First is Canada, followed by Australia and then Germany, Norway and Portugal. These are all major powers at the Olympic Games. And then IOC member Dick Pound said on the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided already. It’s just a matter of time before the IOC bows to the pressure.”

Wong said although the Hong Kong Olympic Committee had started its preparation work for Tokyo, the decision to push back the Games would not have too much impact on their work.

“We are still in the process of finalising the delegation as some sports have yet to complete their qualification due to the outbreak of the epidemic,” he said. “Now we have to wait and see if the respective international federations will work out some adaptations with the IOC on the qualification systems and quotas.”

Hong Kong have already qualified in a number of sports, including swimming, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, karate, table tennis, equestrian and windsurfing. According to an IOC communique released last week, all quota places that have already been allocated to date remain allocated to the National Olympic Committees and athletes that obtained them.

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The communique said 57 per cent of the athletes have already qualified for the Games and the remaining 43 per cent of places will need some necessary and practical adaptations to their respective qualification systems with the impact of the coronavirus still prevailing in many parts of the world. Any necessary revisions to the qualification systems will be published by early April.

“We don’t know if more Hong Kong athletes can qualify under the adapted qualification systems. There are still many unknowns,” said Wong. “But based on the current squad, we have some up-and-coming athletes that can find more room for improvement given more preparation time, but some athletes may face difficulties in maintaining their form as they are getting older.”

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Fencer Cheung Siu-lun, a member of the men’s foil team that qualified for the first time for the Olympics, said he would extend his career for one more year into 2021 before retiring.

Cheung will turn 36 next summer, while swimmer Stephanie Au Hoi-shun, 27, said she would need to change her training plan as she wants to take part in her fourth Olympic Games next year.