Both the Tokyo and Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games have faced significant obstacles in the last year. The Tokyo Games were postponed by one year because of the global pandemic and the Beijing Games are facing calls for boycotts and relocation to another country.
B. Background and Current Status
Sport Canada continues to monitor both these issues closely, given its role in facilitating relationships between the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees and the federal family in support of athlete and dignitary participation, and in coordinating security and crisis management for the Games.
Until further notice, the Tokyo Olympic Games are set to take place from July 23rd to August 8th, 2021 and the Tokyo Paralympic Games, from August 24th to September 5th, 2021. This means that two major international sporting events will now happen within six months, with the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games scheduled for February 4th-20th, 2022, and March 4th-13th, 2022 respectively.
Tokyo Games
On March 22, 2020, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) made the decision not to send Canadian teams to the Tokyo Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada was a leader in calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee as well as the World Health Organization to postpone the Games for one year to protect the health and safety of athletes and the world community.
At the onset of the pandemic, Canada put in place a Sport Medicine Advisory Committee comprised of the COC, the CPC, Own the Podium and the Government of Canada to provide the latest updates on vaccinations, domestic and international travel regulations and testing opportunities. A Return to Sport Task Force was also struck to support the Canadian sport community in its preparation leading up to the Games.
Since the postponement of the Games was announced, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee has continuously adjusted its pre-Games planning to deliver the Games in 2021 safely for all groups, including athletes and officials, volunteers and workforce, media, spectators and dignitaries. Final updates are expected in April and June.
In February 2021, the Organizing Committee released a series of playbooks detailing measures that will be implemented to safeguard the health of all participants. The COC and the CPC evaluated how these would be implemented within their own operations and are constantly adjusting their own planning processes.
Guided by the principles of health and safety for all team members, the COC and the CPC aim to create an environment that supports athlete and coach performance. As such, they are both planning on having strict COVID-19 protocols in place to prevent the spread of the virus within the Canadian teams and ultimately maximize Canadian performances.
On March 20, 2021, the Tokyo Games Organizing Committee and Japanese government announced that overseas spectators would not be allowed to attend the Games in order to minimize health risks to the public. We are awaiting further details from the Organizing Committee prior to providing a recommendation regarding the Federal Delegation’s (Head of State, Head of Government, Minister for Sport and Minister for Accessibility for the Paralympic Games only) participation at the Games.
Beijing Games
For Beijing 2022 Games, the COC and the CPC plan on following similar protocols to those planned for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
There is growing pressure by various activist groups and political figures for countries, including Canada, to boycott these Games or to request they be relocated given China’s domestic policies curtailing civil and political rights.
On February 4, 2021, the Chief Executive Officers of the COC and the CPC released an Op-Ed outlining their opposition to a boycott.
February 2021 saw a series of actions from Canadian politicians:
thirteen Canadian Members of Parliament from all five major federal parties in Canada signed a letter urging the IOC to move the Beijing Games to another country due to reported human rights abuses in China;
the Leader of the Official Opposition in Canada urged the Prime Minister to request moving the Beijing Games to another country, stating it was not appropriate for China to host the world’s biggest sporting event in light of its human rights abuses;
Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favor of labelling China’s persecution of the Uyghur community a genocide during Conservative MP Michael Chong’s opposition day motion. The House also voted in favor of calling on the Government to request that the IOC move the Beijing Games from China if the persecution continues. All Conservative, New Democratic Party, Bloc Québécois, Green Party and Independent MPs voted for the non-binding motion, and the vast majority of the Liberal caucus voted in favor, although the Liberal Cabinet abstained. The Prime Minister affirmed that seeking broad consensus among Western allies on Chinese human rights issues would be the best approach.
C. Strategic Considerations
The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees and National Sport Organizations (NSOs), along with the Government of Canada, are closely monitoring the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Tokyo and the Beijing Games. The priority remains the health and safety of athletes and coaches.
The Government of Canada provided additional COVID-19 relief funding to the Canadian sport system, including $34.2 million in additional support under the Sport Support Program to NSOs, Multisport Service Organizations and the Canadian Sport Centres and $5 million in additional support to the Athlete Assistance Programme.
The COC and the CPC operate independently of the government and are ultimately responsible for all aspects of Canada’s involvement in the Olympic and Paralympic movement, including Canada’s participation in the Games.
Tokyo Games
Amidst the uncertainty related to the COVID-19 countermeasures in place in Japan and Canada, Sport Canada continues its planning for the Tokyo Games in terms of federal objectives and issue management. Federal participation remains to be confirmed.
Despite the counter measures being implemented for the Tokyo Games, challenges remain. Travel restrictions affect training and competition, as well as qualification events for the Games and classification opportunities for para-athletes. Timely access to a vaccine is also a significant concern, particularly for vulnerable para-athletes who may have immune deficiencies.
Beijing Games
While the topic of boycotting the Beijing Games has been frequently discussed in the media, views on the topic are diverse and evolve rapidly.
The Government of Canada takes Team Canada’s well-being very seriously and recognizes the independence of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees when it comes to Canada's participation in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Both entities take into account the athletes’ lifetime efforts and Canada’s commitment to our fundamental values, the protection of human rights and the rule of law around the world.
Global Affairs Canada and Sport Canada continue to collaborate on messaging and positioning on this topic.
