The announcement that the Summer Olympics will be taking place this year raises questions about how it will be structured compared to previous years without having to navigate through a global pandemic. 

The games will still be considered the 2020 Summer Olympics, since the games only happen every 4 years it does not impose on future games. They will begin on July 23, 2021, and continue until August 8, 2021, as well as the Paralympic games which will be held from August 24 to September 5. The games will still be held in Tokyo just as they were supposed to last year. 

The decision to hold the games this year was based on three criteria, that the health and safety of all athletes and everyone involved in the games will be protected, to accommodate the international sports calendar and safeguard the interests of the athletes. 

This Olympics will have the first ever gender-balanced games which means that about 49 percent of the athletes competing will be female. 

For as long as the Olympic games have been around, people have traveled from all over the world to go and support the athletes that represent their country, but this year things will look a little bit different. The only people allowed to travel to Japan for the games will be the athletes. 

The officials have given out rules to athletes on how they will handle the situation around the pandemic. In addition fans will be allowed to clap but not sing or cheer, and wearing a mask will be mandated for all in attendance. Furthermore, vaccination of the athletes is not required but has been requested as the officials have let that decision come down to the athletes. 

The Olympic games will be televised like they always have been for sports’ fans to cheer on their teams from the comfort of their own homes.