AOC boss John Coates sends message to Olympic athletes and fans, marking one year until rescheduled Tokyo games
As our Olympic athletes continue to recalibrate for another year of build up to Tokyo, Australian organising committee boss John Coates says it is still unclear what shape the simplified Games will take.
The Olympic Games is all about the athletes. It always has been and always will be.
The postponed Tokyo Olympic Games, one year away today, is no different.
It is appropriate as we observe this mark, that we continue to select athletes for the Games and later today will announce four members of our table tennis team who have earned selection.
Their inclusion will bring to 75 the number of athletes selected for Tokyo in nine sports.
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All athletes with a Tokyo dream in their hearts have had to recalibrate their plans for a Games that would have been held right now, to a Games that are now 12 months away.
They have demonstrated remarkable resilience in making that adjustment.
Actually – and I may be biased – our Australian athletes have been inspirational.
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and our Japanese partners – the central Japan
Government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and The Tokyo Olympic Games Organising Committee (Tokyo 2020) are doing everything in their power to ensure that not only will the Games go ahead next year, but the athletes remain first and foremost in all our planning.
Yes, we want the athletes of the world to have their Olympic moment of competition, just as they would have dreamt. But critically, they must experience that moment in an environment where their health and safety, and that of all other participants in the Games, is assured.
The good news is that all 42 Games’ venues, including the Olympic Village, International Broadcast and Main Press Centres have been resecured. The competition schedule is the same.
But we must reduce the cost impact of postponement as well as simplify the Games to ensure they can be organised efficiently, safely and sustainably, in this new context.
With one year to go, there is no clear picture of what shape the simplified Games will take. The situation with COVID-19, both domestically and internationally, is constantly changing.
Tokyo 2020 has been working closely with the IOC, International Paralympic Committee, Japanese health authorities and experts from the World Health Organisation since the pandemic broke. Last week Tokyo 2020 announced that, as well as this specialist expertise, they are setting up a three-party council with the Japan Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to ensure they are in a position to implement all necessary countermeasures against COVID-19.
It is no easy task, but this is a commitment being driven and led from the top by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, TMG Governor Yuriko Koike and Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori, himself a former Prime Minister.
The IOC has already stepped up in helping all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Sports Federations around the world with $144 million since the outbreak of the crisis. And last week the IOC confirmed that it will continue supporting NOCs with allocations this year from their worldwide sponsor program amounting to $215 million.
This will help the AOC deal with the additional Games-related costs emerging as a consequence of the postponement.
The AOC is very grateful our commercial partners have been so supportive of our athletes and sports through this time, as they themselves face difficulties. And distributions to the AOC from the Australian Olympic Foundation remain unaffected.
Obviously, the next few months will be important for these Games and more broadly for all the world as we deal with the pandemic.
In our own backyard we have witnessed just how fluid the environment is. Our athletes and our sports have been meticulous and responsible in their approach as we proceed with our planning in these difficult circumstances.
I have mentioned our athletes and used the word inspirational. They have set such an example for us all. They have shown community leadership and a selflessness, in not only negotiating their own difficult course through this crisis, but also providing a guiding light to others.
They have remained positive and innovative. When school visits had to stop, they went online to classrooms instead, thanks to our Olympics Unleashed Program presented by Optus. They are committed to giving our children lasting lessons on how to stay positive and focused, such valuable life skills right now.
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When forced to work out from home during lockdowns, they took their routines to the world via social media and invited the community to join them in goal-setting.
And of course, there are some Olympians who have put their athletic careers to one side in order to return to their career commitments as nurses, doctors, paramedics and other emergency response occupations.
It is my sincere hope that in the months ahead these inspirational Australians can return to their normal training and competitions as they prepare for the Tokyo Games. And I know that the Australian Paralympic Committee and their wonderful athletes are similarly preparing for the Tokyo Paralympic Games next year.
What has particularly struck me in recent times is the outpouring of goodwill from the broader
community towards our sports and most importantly our athletes.
We all agree that the Olympic Games in Tokyo can stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times and, next year, we hope they will be a celebration of humankind.
In September we will be recalling just how inspirational Sydney 2000 was, not just for Australians, but for people around the world.
It will be a 20-year anniversary that not only provides us with fond and joyous reflections, but
reminds us what a powerful and positive force the Olympic Games is for a host country.
Recapturing the spirit of the Sydney 2000 Games also plants the seeds of anticipation of what the Olympic and Paralympic Games can bring to Queensland in 2032, a candidature which is on hold while our governments combat the spread of COVID-19.
There is already a need for jobs and growth in the Queensland economy arising from the impact of COVID-19 and our partner three levels of Government recognise a potential 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a critical part of the state and nation’s economic recovery in the short term, quite apart from all the long term health, wellbeing, economic and sporting legacies.
When they tell us the moment is right to do so, we will resume and elevate dialogue with the IOC.
The opportunity is clear and exciting.
But for now, Australian athletes are mapping out their next twelve months, leading to the
excitement of the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo on July 23, 2021 and competing against the best in the world.
I salute every Australian athlete who has dealt with the realities that 2020 has presented them. For those who have taken the difficult decision to retire, you have our support and gratitude for all you have done. For those who dream to continue to Tokyo, may the next 12 months provide you with the opportunity to do your best. All Australians wish you well.
Originally published as AOC boss John Coates sends message to Olympic athletes and fans, marking one year until rescheduled Tokyo games
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