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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
SportHong Kong

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

  • Secretary general Ronnie Wong says they now wait to see if the IOC makes any adaptations on the qualification systems and quotas
  • With 43 per cent of places still up for grabs, Hong Kong athletes have another year to try to qualify for Tokyo

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The countdown clock will now have to be altered for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Photo: Zuma Wire
Chan Kin-wa
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.
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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.”

A woman wearing a protective face mask walks past the Olympic rings at the Japan Olympics Museum in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters
A woman wearing a protective face mask walks past the Olympic rings at the Japan Olympics Museum in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters
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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.”

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