The new dates have now been confirmed for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Taking place one year later, the Games will now start 23^rd July to 8^th August 2021. The new Paralympic Games dates were also decided, getting underway 24^th August to 5^th September 2021.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Government of Japan unanimously agreed the new dates earlier this week.

The decision was taken to protect the health of athletes and everyone involved, and help support the containment of COVID-19. Additionally, the move will provide sufficient time to finish the qualification process for athletes across a range of sports.

The new dates also take into account the rest of the global sports calendar. This is due to many other championship events have also been postponed until next year.

Speaking of the latest news, the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) confirmed that all quota places already allocated during qualifying competitions, starting with 2018 World Championship in Changwon, Korea, will remain valid.

They continued to say, “Given a very low probability that any qualification competitions would be held this season, the ISSF will address to the IOC with a proposal to leave unchanged the provision to allocate 12 quota places according to the World Rankings (one in each individual event) as of 31st May 2020 which was stipulated in the Qualification system approved in 2017.

The remaining qualification quotas (16 quotas allocated to the European Shooting Confederation), which have not been awarded so far, can be won during the 2021 competitions.”

To keep up to date with the latest developments for the next Olympic Games, head over to the Tokyo2020 website.