Olympic Games postponed, Pita live streams workouts [1]
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - 17:52
The Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 has been postponed to next year while the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates globally.
The announcement was made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Abe Shinzo, in a joint IOC and Tokyo Organising Committee statement yesterday, 24 March.
The games were originally planned for 24 July – 9 August.
The IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan expressed their shared concern about the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and what it is doing to people’s lives and the significant impact it is having on global athletes’ preparations for the Games.
They decided that based on the information provided by the World Health Organisation: “the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community”.
The Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Tongan athletes
Only two Tongan Taekwondo athletes, Pita Taufatofua and Malia Paseka, have qualified for the Olympics to date.
The Olympics postponement will give athletes more time to prepare, including Pita, who is aiming to also qualify in the sport of sprint kayaking.
He said on social media that he “will keep pushing on my kayak just in case there is that chance that a miracle will happen and I get to represent Tonga on the Taekwondo mats and in the Kayak in Tokyo. I will use the extra year to be the best athlete and person that I can be”.
Workout with Pita Taufatofua from home
Meanwhile, the Olympic Channel will be streaming Pita Taufatofua delivering live work outs from his home via Instagram and facebook this week.
“I will be delivering a short, structured 10-minute workout that anyone can follow from the comfort of your lounge room.”
“I’ve added a workout count down time in my insta and Facebook story so you know exactly when it’s go time!” he said.
“Make sure you follow the Olympic Channel, and be ready with your sweat band, bulging biceps and corona free water bottle!”
The Olympic Channel has been promoting how Olympians are working out from home all over the world.