Amid mounting pressure from athletes and national governing bodies, the International Olympic Committee is now considering whether to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics — and it has set a deadline for its decision.
In a letter to athletes released Sunday, IOC president Thomas Bach wrote that the IOC has ruled out canceling the Games altogether but is now exploring alternative ways to stage the Tokyo Olympics — including postponement.
Bach indicated that the IOC is discussing the matter with key stakeholders and will make a final decision within the next four weeks.
“Together with all the stakeholders, we have started detailed discussions today to complete our assessment of the rapid development of the worldwide health situation and its impact on the Olympic Games, including a scenario of postponement,” Bach wrote. “We are working very hard, and we are confident that we will have finalised these discussions within the next four weeks.”
Sunday’s statement represents a significant shift in the IOC’s messaging on the Olympics, which are scheduled to begin July 24 in Tokyo. For months, the IOC and Bach have dismissed even the possibility of a postponement as mere speculation and declined to specify any contingency plans for the Games.
The IOC’s change in stance comes amid mounting pressure from across the Olympic movement to postpone the Games, most likely to 2021.
In recent days, national Olympic committees from Brazil and Norway, among others, have called for the Games to be postponed — as have USA Swimming and USA Track and Field, the two largest sport governing bodies within the Olympic movement in the U.S.
Postponing the Games would cause substantial ripple effects throughout the global sports community, both for the 11,000 athletes who were scheduled to compete and sports federations and leagues around the world.
What it means for golf
The men’s Olympic golf competition was slated for July 30-Aug. 2 at Kasumigaseki Country Club while the women would play Aug. 5-8.
As was the case in Rio for the 2016 Summer Games when golf returned to the Olympics after a 112-year-absence, 60 players will be in the field. In Rio, Justin Rose won the gold, Henrik Stenson the silver and Matt Kuchar the bronze.
Olympic golf: Latest men’s standings | Latest women’s standings
As it stands now, the USA would be represented by Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed. But Johnson has said he wouldn’t play in the Olympics, so Patrick Cantlay would be his replacement.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy has said he’ll play for Ireland. As the rankings stand, Graeme McDowell would join him.
On the women’s side, the American team would be comprised of Nelly Korda, Danielle Kang and Lexi Thompson.
The top 15 players in the Olympic Golf Rankings (basically the Official World Ranking) would be eligible, with a maximum of four players per country. There is a maximum of two players per country if that country does not have two or more players ranked in the top 15.
Japan, as the host country, is guaranteed two players in the field.
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