British Olympic Association, British Paralympic Association and UK Sport welcome news of Tokyo 2020 postponement.
The “power of sport” will inspire the nation again, the ceo of UK Sport has said following the decision yesterday (March 24) to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The International Olympic Committee and the Prime Minister of Japan confirmed that the Games must be rescheduled beyond 2020, but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of athletes and everybody involved.
Crucially for licensees which may already have created product, the Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.
A number of companies had already revealed product lines for the Games – which were due to begin in Tokyo in June – including Mattel which had a variety of special products across the Barbie, Hot Wheels and UNO brands.
Sanrio had also partnered with Team USA for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. The collaboration – which was also due to coincide with Sanrio’s 60th anniversary celebration this year – had been planned to include a limited edition collection for girls and adults featuring Hello Kitty.
The British Olympic Association, British Paralympic Association and UK Sport welcomed the news saying that a postponement “is the right decision” and that it would have been “unthinkable” to continue preparing for an Olympic Games “at a time the nation and the world no less is enduring great hardship”.
Sally Munday, ceo of UK Sport, added: “I’d also like to reassure the public that whilst the games are postponed, we strongly believe the power of sport will inspire the nation again.”
Mike Sharrock, ceo of the BPA, commented: “Now is the time for us all to work together to overcome this global threat. Sport has a unique power to inspire and bring people together and we are certain that the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games can be that beacon of hope for the whole world to focus on to show what the human spirit can achieve.”
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