John Coates optimistic 2021 Tokyo Games could be the greatest ever

Senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, John Coates, says the 2021 Tokyo Games could be the greatest ever.

Coates is the head of the IOC’s inspectorate for the Games, and Australian Olympic Committee President.

The sporting spectacle, which was supposed to take place in July 2019, was postponed for a year due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Tokyo Olympics is supposed to get underway on July 23 next year. It was postponed for 12 months as the world tries to deal with the impact of Covid-19.

The Olympic Games #Tokyo2020 will be held from 23 July until 8 August 2021.

More information here: https://t.co/ST25uXKglE pic.twitter.com/sQo1TIcH5O

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) March 30, 2020

But Coates remains optimistic. He cited the examples of successful Summer Games that followed the two world wars in the 20th century. Coates says the Games may be the greatest ever.

“Because we’re all emerging from a time of global distress, because we must wait longer than the already-long wait for an Olympics, the Games of Tokyo will gently but perceptibly echo the sheer joy and relief of the other delayed Olympics of Antwerp in 1920 and London in 1948.”

Meanwhile, six-time Formula One world champion, Lewis Hamilton, says the prospect of a home British Grand Prix without any spectators is not ideal.

But Hamilton admitted that he is still raring to get going after months of waiting.

None of the drivers have raced since December 2019, and the coronavirus pandemic has also put a stop to all racing activities.

The Formula 1 season was supposed to get underway in Melbourne in March. Plans are, however, underway to start behind closed doors in Austria and Silverstone in July.

“I really do miss it, and as I’ve said, this has been, it’s almost a blessing on one side because, you know, it gives you even more appreciation for the things that you love and the things that you do. This has given me more energy and inspiration and determination to keep delivering and keep working with this great team.”

The British Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on the 19th of July.

Also, the golf went virtual as some of the world’s best players battled for glory in the inaugural BMW Indoor Invitational event at the iconic Old Course at St Andrews.

Dean Burmester of South Africa sank a hole-in-one on the par 3 8th hole…

The event used the latest technology where players swing their real golf clubs and hit a ball into a large display of the golf course, with sensors calculating the speed and trajectory of the ball to simulate play.

But Joost Luiten of The Netherlands emerged victorious. He fired a six under par 66 to defeat 17 European Tour players and win around 200 000 rand for the charity of his choice.

He says it’s nice to get the feeling of competition going again.

“It’s actually quite a good feeling you know, we’ve been doing nothing for such a long time so it’s nice to get that feeling of competition going again so it was great to start with it and even better to win it.)

The European Tour is expected to resume with the British Masters at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on July 30.