The opening ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has been set for 23 July 2021 after the games were postponed this year due to CoViD-19.

The Games organising committee and the International Olympic Committee confirmed the rugby sevens schedule [2] which will take place at Tokyo Stadium.

The men’s rugby sevens competition will run over three days from 26-28 July, with the women’s competition following on 29-31 July.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is the pinnacle event for the world’s finest rugby sevens players and confirmation of the competition dates is an exciting boost to the rugby community ahead of what promises to be a special Games.

“Set against the backdrop of society’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic, I am sure that Tokyo 2020 will be a special celebration of sport and solidarity.”

There will be two sessions on each competition day with the morning session kicking off at 9am Japan Standard Time (JST) and run until 12:00pm JST. The evening session will begin at 4:30pm and end at either 7pm or 7:30pm JST.

The medal matches will take place in the evening sessions.

The times have been selected in the interests of player welfare to avoid the peak heat of Japanese summertime and maximise fan atmosphere and engagement.

Twenty-one out of 24 teams have already secure their place to Tokyo with the remaining spots for two women’s and one men’s team to be decided at an Olympic Repechage event prior to the qualification deadline.

Rugby sevens was a highlight of a spectacular Rio 2016 Olympic Games on debut, with Australia’s women and Fiji’s men winning gold medals, the first Olympic rugby medals since 1924, and the first Olympic medal in Fiji’s history.