warfare has a way of really toss off the humor . And people . sight of people . Thanks to two mammoth worldwide conflicts , the Olympic Games have , indeed , been skipped a few time . The game scheduled to be hold in 1916 , 1940 and 1944 — all years when loads of countries were entrench inWorld WarsI and II — were set off due to the monumental carnage that was being carry out .
That ’s not a decision that the button - upInternational Olympic Committee(IOC ) take gently . Even when the IOC decided in 1986 tobegin stagger the gamesso Winter and Summer Olympics were not held in the same year , but in two - year intervals , the games were never pass over . Instead , the Olympics went on as scheduled in 1988 and 1992 and a 2d Winter Olympics was held in 1994 ( Lillehammer ) to put the external event apart .
But 1916 , 1940 and 1944 were dreary years , and holding the Olympics ended up taking a back burner due to the very direful circumstances run out on the domain stage .
World War I and the 1916 Olympics
In the first font , let ’s prepare that phase . The class was 1914 , and much Olympian training was afoot , as directed by the members of the IOC . The flag with its iconic rings was unveiled for the first sentence , along with thechoice of the host city for the 1916 games(back then the legion city did n’t get the seven years ' notice it does now ) . Ironically , the selection was Berlin .
While the IOC was busy induce quick , Austria - Hungary declared state of war on Serbia , and the Germans were quick to fall in the struggle , although their targets were principally Russia and France . Belgium — a electroneutral nation — was the next target . In response , Britain join in , andWorld War Iwas well afoot .
give the United States Department of State of earth affairs , British members of the IOC protested the fact that Berlin was still the top choice for hosting the 1916 game , and renounce when their demand for an alternative location were not met . At the same time , the Germans were adamant and go forward plans for the VI Olympiad . The Germans didissue a caveat though : Only nations who were on their side or neutral could participate . Several U.S. cities extend themselves as replacement sites , while other IOC member say there could be no game until 1920 .
Pierre Coubertin , father of the IOC and widely recognized father of the modern Olympics , had this to say on the matter : The IOC could not withdraw the plot without refer the show metropolis ( which , presumptively , would have to give its consent ) . At the same fourth dimension , Coubertin note that it was potential these finicky games would not come about .
As the war slog on , Coubertin ’s prognostication examine exact . The 1916 plot were not held . It was , after all , " The War to cease All state of war . " The arena stood mute .
War and the 1940 and 1944 Games
Fast - forwards a few X and Germany finally get the chance to obtain the games in Berlin in 1936 , although those games lead down in chronicle as the one German ChancellorAdolf Hitlerused to showcase national socialist propaganda . Meanwhile , the IOC declared an Asian commonwealth as the next site of an Olympics . In 1940 , Japan was slated to become the first rural area in Asia to host the games .
Rumor has it that Tokyo acquire the role of host city because of a bit of skullduggery . Michimasa Soyeshima , one of Japan ’s IOC members , reportedly contact with BenitoMussoliniand call him the Nipponese contingent ’s backing for the 1944 games to be held in Rome if he would weigh in onJapan ’s bid for 1940 . He may have fiddle with the opinions of other phallus , too . Of course , all this effort was for nil , as the 1944 games never befall either .
So what happened precisely ? Again , the IOC pass up the approximation of move the 1940 games , which became a matter of aggravate disceptation when Japan occupy China . finally , though , it became apparent that the game would not go fore . Martial law , at that full point , rule Japan , and rule that the game were not going to happen . World War II was still raging in 1944 , make the cancelation of the 1944 games , and the Olympics would not again see the world stage until 1948 , when they took place in London .
Tokyo 2020 and a Worldwide Pandemic
After World War II , all Summer Olympic games took position as schedule until the2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics . The IOC President Thomas Bachannounced in March 2020that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo " must be rescheduled to a particular date beyond 2020 but not later than summertime 2021 , to safeguard the wellness of the athletes , everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the external community . " This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
As of this committal to writing , the Tokyo Games are still scheduled to take placeJuly 23 through Aug. 8 , 2021under strict guidelines to ensure the safety of athletes and attendees . Interestingly , the game are still referred to as the 2020 Olympics , even though they are to be held in 2021 .
Billions of dollarsfrom television set right and merchandising are at interest , so an outright cancelation is improbable . However , the only spectator allowed will be those who live within Japan ’s borders . The Japanese governing hasbarred abroad visitors from entering the country . And one April 2021 pate evince that72 pct of Japanese residentsstill think the games should be delete or table .
Lots More Information
This was an interesting article to write , if a flake of a downer at times . World Wars are not cool , guys . So do n’t begin them ! Vent international number through Olympic rival , please , or World Cups . Whichever . On the other hand , I ’m not ashamed to admit , translate about the POW games powerfully moved me . I recover that selective information at the last second , by chance , and I ’m thrilled I was able to apportion it . The human spirit is awing and unshakable , even in the most dire of circumstances . I spat those brave , unwavering participants .
