Scenarios, costs and consequences for fans: The most important things about the Olympics

For the first time, the International Olympic Committee has presented a possible timetable for postponing the Summer Games in Tokyo in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. However, both athletes and fans are far from clear. “I know that this unprecedented situation leaves many of your questions unanswered,” admitted IOC President Thomas Bach in an email to athletes. An overview of the possible costs of rescheduling, the further process and the mood in the host country. How likely is it that the Olympics can still take place as planned? Given the global extent of the pandemic, there currently appears to be no alternative to the Olympics having to deviate from the planned date of July 24th to August 9th. The IOC wants to make a decision within four weeks. Major Olympic nations such as Canada and Australia are increasing the pressure by announcing that they will not send teams this summer. Athletics Association head Sebastian Coe wrote to Bach that the Olympics in July were “neither possible nor desirable.” Then why should it take so long for a decision? The unconditional adherence to the previous plan is also crumbling in Japan, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is talking about a postponement for the first time. However, the organizers are careful to ensure that a cancellation is not seen as a loss of face, and an arbitrary decision could result in immense claims for damages. The final decision rests with the IOC, according to Japan. Ringe boss Bach points out that his organization will follow the advice of the World Health Organization. However, the WHO emphasizes that it only has an advisory role and will not demand a cancellation. So the IOC continues to play for time.

What scenarios for a postponement are there? There are three mind games on the table, none of them without problems. If it were postponed until autumn 2020, there would be better climatic conditions. However, it is completely unclear whether the global situation due to the coronavirus will have improved enough by then that the Olympics could take place with spectators. The most likely option is that the games will be postponed by a year to the summer of 2021, similar to the European Football Championship. However, new data would have to be found for several other major international events such as the World Athletics Championships in the USA. If postponed by two years, the 2022 Winter and Summer Games would take place in the same year. The last time this happened was in 1992, when the Olympics still had a much smaller program. What would be the financial consequences? Local experts expect a postponement alone to cost Japan the equivalent of 5,4 billion to 5,7 billion euros. However, if the Olympics were to be canceled completely, 38 to 65 billion euros would be missing. In addition to the direct damage, financial experts recently expected a loss of 120 billion for Japan due to a lack of tourists. What would be the consequences for sports fans? Given the open situation, it is unclear what consequences there will be for Olympic fans willing to travel. In the analogous case of the postponed European Football Championship, tickets remained valid, but can be returned if supporters cannot travel to the new date. Whether trips can be canceled free of charge probably depends on the trip you are planning. If the ticket is part of the booked package, fans can withdraw from the contract, according to Paul Degott, travel law lawyer. According to the expert, the situation is different for flights and hotels that were booked independently of a ticket. Normal cancellation conditions apply here.

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Scenarios, costs and consequences for fans: The most important things about the Olympics

Will the Tokyo Olympics now be postponed? When could the Summer Games take place instead? And how much does it all cost? Even after the IOC announced a deadline for a possible rescheduling, many questions remain unanswered.

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