The Olympics and Paralympics
Schedule: The Olympics will take place in Tokyo from July 23 to August 8, while the Paralympics will run from August 24 to September 5.
Potential for Full Venues: As the Games approach, the question of whether all events will have spectators remains uncertain. The city of Tokyo is still under a state of Covid emergency until the end of May, causing concern among locals. Hidemasa Nakamura, the Tokyo 2020 delivery officer, emphasized the importance of frequent testing to allow local spectators inside.
Ticket Information: Overseas spectators have already been banned from attending the Games, and a decision on the inclusion of the Japanese public will be made in June. It is likely that empty venues will be the outcome, resulting in a significant loss of revenue amounting to £500 million.
Broadcast Options: The BBC is the main rights-holder for Olympics coverage, with Discovery+ also providing extensive coverage of the Games.
Potential Impacts of Scrapped ‘Freedom Day’
By Ben Rumsby
There are growing concerns that the proposed lifting of restrictions on June 21, known as ‘freedom day,’ may be scrapped due to the spread of the Indian variant of coronavirus in the UK.
Ministers have also acknowledged the possibility of reintroducing “local lockdowns” in areas heavily affected by the variant.
But what would this mean for sports?
Reduced Crowds at the European Championship and Other Events
If the government does not reverse the relaxation of restrictions implemented on Monday, crowds of up to 10,000 will continue to be allowed at mass events. Initially, it was agreed that 22,500 spectators could attend England’s Euro 2020 group games, which occur before June 21. However, any delay to ‘freedom day’ could disrupt plans to increase crowd sizes to between 50 and 100 percent leading up to the final matches. This potential delay could also affect attendance at England rugby and cricket matches, Wimbledon, The Open, and the British Grand Prix, dampening hopes for a spectacular summer of sports.
Restrictions for Ticket-Holders from Local Lockdown Areas
If the regulations mirror those implemented last year, individuals residing in areas under local lockdown would be prohibited from leaving. This would include ticket-holders for Euro 2020 and other events. While affected individuals may be entitled to a refund, it would provide little consolation to those who miss out on experiences like visiting Wembley, Twickenham, Lord’s, Wimbledon, or Silverstone. There could be pressure to exempt fully vaccinated individuals or those with a negative Covid-19 test from these restrictions.
Possible Delay of parkrun’s Return
As reported by Telegraph Sport, the future of parkrun is uncertain, as only a small fraction of venues have received permission for its anticipated return on June 5. Scrapping ‘freedom day’ would likely further dissuade landowners and local authorities from granting permission. Most grassroots sports should be unaffected as long as the relaxation of restrictions on May 17 is not reversed. However, extending social distancing measures beyond June 21 could impact the capacity of gym classes.
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