The Tokyo Olympics MAY see concussion substitutes trialed (nothing's official yet): IFAB's 134th AGM is OVER! As expected, they've decided to draw up "protocols" for concussion sub trials, with FIFA keen on pilot at 2020 Olympics...extra permanent subs, not temporary ones. They're also going to review the offside laws "to foster the spirit of attacking play"...— Matt Slater (@mjshrimper) February 29, 2020
also IFAB wants to spread VAR to more countries and revise handball law to get more clarity on shoulder/upper arm issue.
Host (1): Japan CONMEBOL (1.5): Brazil, (Chile) OFC (1): New Zealand UEFA (3): Great Britain, Netherlands, Sweden CONCACAF (2): USA, Canada AFC (2): CAF(1.5): Zambia ( Cameroon)
Zambia might be the lowest-ranked team to reach the Olympics. They're currently ranked 106 and will go up come the next rankings on March 27. Zimbabwe was ranked #95 when they played in 2016. Does Zambia climb above 95 by then? Current rankings of the qualified teams: 1. USA 3. Netherlands 5. Sweden 7. Australia 8. Canada 9. Brazil 10. Japan 23. New Zealand 106. Zambia NR. Great Britain
Great Britain should get the ranking of England for the draw because England has qualified them for the Olympic Games. This will put them probably in pot 2..
The pots should be: POT 1: Japan, USA, Netherlands POT 2: Great Britain, Sweden, Australia POT 3: Canada, Brazil, China/South Korea POT 4: New Zealand, Zambia, Chile/Cameroon
This would mean that Australia would be in the Netherlands group and China/South Korea must go to the USA group. The difference between Australia(1963), Canada(1958) and Brazil(1956) is small. Is there a chance for Canada or Brazil to get in pot 2?
The Olympics use the FIFA rankings to seed everyone. New rankings come out March 27, so things can change, but that should be the seedings.
No miracle happened with Australia winning 2-1. Host (1): Japan CONMEBOL (1.5): Brazil, (Chile) OFC (1): New Zealand UEFA (3): Great Britain, Netherlands, Sweden CONCACAF (2): USA, Canada AFC (2): Australia CAF(1.5): Zambia ( Cameroon) Two remaining places to be decided: Zambia v Chile and China v South Korea
I'm surprised that there's been no speculation here on COVID-19's impact on the Olympics. Right now, they're waiting until May to make a call about the Olympics, which I completely understand. Events leading up to the Olympics though that determine qualification are being affected though (e.g. CONCACAF's men's qualifying tournament has been postponed for at least 30 days, FINA has postponed several Olympic water sports qualifying events, etc.). It might not be so much if Japan is set to host but whether athletes have qualified, able to travel, etc.
There is the possibility they're delayed until September. This would throw off a few things in the USA in terms of pro sports and televising.
Postponement would throw off things worldwide as far as television goes. Other possibilities that I've seen tossed around are holding them with no spectators or cancelling them altogether (the Olympics have, up until now, never been cancelled during peacetime). IMO, holding the Olympics with no spectators would be the least costly, but might still be difficult if qualifying events can't take place.
They should postpone the Olympics to September or October if it is still not possible to hold sport events with spectators in May. Cancelling would be unfair to the athletes. It is something different to cancel an event that is hold only every four years than to cancel an event that is hold every year. If you can hold the Olympics only without spectators you would have to quarantine the athletes, coaches and officials or you risk that the virus will be spread among them. I don`t care if postponing the Olympics is a problem for the television in the USA. The interests of the athletes should be the most important thing. Swimming finals in the morning is worse enough.
I heard someone talking about postponing Olympics by a whole year, both for being reasonably sure that the emergency is ended and not to mess with the logistic problems of having the event in a different season.
A year makes more sense than moving it to Sept/Oct. Keep the dates the same so pro leagues don't have to adjust.
All the Olympic Sports have World Championships or Continental Championships next year. Many of them would have to change the time of these events.
Yeah, they might be postponed, and that might be the best decision. But it will snowball and affect something regardless of when they are postponed to.
Italian swimmer Federica Pellegrini underlined yesterday in an interview that athletes need a decision to be made sooner than later, to plan their preparation accordingly.