The new dates also minimize disruption to the international sports calendar and provide sufficient time to finish the qualification process, the IOC said.

The IOC and Tokyo organizers have again chosen dates smack in the middle of the hottest, most humid time of year in the Japanese capital, which will help broadcasters and revenue but may be less in the interest of athletes and spectators.

The new closing date for the Games has been set as Aug. 8. 2021, while the Paralympics are now scheduled to start on Aug. 24 and end on Sept. 5, the Tokyo organizing committee and IOC announced on Monday.

IOC President Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to postpone the Olympics last week due to the spreading coronavirus pandemic, but also have agreed to continue to use the Tokyo 2020 branding even though the Games will be held in 2021.

The new dates were agreed by the Bach, the head of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, …continued .
[Source: Washington Post]