Paralympics schedule to remain unchanged in 2021

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic schedule remains essentially unchanged for the event that has been postponed until next year, organizers said on Monday. The 2020 Paralympics is scheduled to be held from 24th August to 5th September 2021. Organizers have lined up the same 43 venues that would have been used this year for the Olympics and Paralympics. The massive Athletes Village and the media center have also been secured.

"There are no major changes to the schedule," Hide Nakamura, the games delivery officer, said. "Having the schedule being fixed is a big step for athletes."

Japan has attributed just over 1,000 deaths to COVID-19, modest numbers by global standards. However, Tokyo has seen its new cases rise steadily in the last several weeks. Tokyo Governor Yurkio Koike and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have resisted calling for a state of emergency, but bars and restaurants in Tokyo have been told to close early.

Nakamura said "There is a possibility that the event schedules may change later on" depending on the coronavirus situation.