The world cheered as the 2016 Summer Olympics came to a celebratory end and Tokyo was announced to host the next in 2020. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) had no other choice but to postpone it. With its strong collaboration with Japan’s Government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, and the World Health Organization, the IOC proudly announced that the Tokyo Games will begin on the 23rd of July 2021. IOC President Thomas Bach hopes that, in a time when humanity is stuck in a “dark tunnel,” the 2021 Olympics will be a “light at the end of this tunnel.”

As of now, fans are expected to see about 11,000 athletes at the Summer Olympics, 43% still having to qualify in regional and national competitions. For the United States, it will be holding its Olympic team trials for swimming, track and field, and gymnastics in mid-June. However, with the overwhelming number of athletes and fans, the question of how spectator attendance will be regulated instantly surfaces. Bach announced in late 2020 that he is confident that fans will be able to attend and watch the Olympics in person, but there has not yet been any announcements made on capacity limits, attendance protocols, and traveling fans. While waiting for the official decision in the spring of 2021, Kyodo News reports that contact-tracing apps and facial recognition technology has been considered to record the attendees’ faces and body surface temperatures, as well as to check if they are wearing masks. Still, it is unclear how the organization will ensure safety.

Although many factors of the 2021 Tokyo Games have not yet been completely clarified, athletes have a clear understanding of their stay in the Olympic Village. In early December of 2020, the IOC advised that all athletes arrive at most five days before the first day of competition and depart at most 48 hours after their final competition. John Coates, an IOC member in charge of the 2021 preparations, additionally advised against touring Tokyo. To minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus even more, Bach introduced the possibility of the IOC contributing to paying for vaccines. This way, they will be available to the athletes attending; this said, they will not be required to receive the vaccination. 

The Summer Olympics that everyone has been waiting for for over four years is finally approaching in just a few months. By putting a number of COVID-19 safety protocols in order, the IOC works to normalize the sports realm and present a worldwide event that millions can look forward to. This year, not only will fans be able to see some of their favorite athletes in action, but will also be introduced to several new, popular disciplines such as surfing, skateboarding, sport climbing, karate, and baseball. With these new disciplines set in stone, the 2021 Summer Olympics will definitely be an event like no other, pushing athletes, spectators, and government officials to be proactive and innovative in a time of great uncertainty.