Jayhawks discuss postponement of Tokyo Olympics: In ’21, Games can ‘reunite the world’
The decision to postpone, not cancel, the 2020 Summer Olympics has been well received by former competitors with University of Kansas ties.
“This allows for all those Olympic dreams to take place, just on a delayed basis,” Tim Weaver, a former meet director for the Kansas Relays and now head manager for USA Track and Field for the Tokyo Games.
The Summer Olympics have been moved to July 23-Aug. 8, 2021 because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
“Knowing Tokyo will play host to thousands of those emotional moments, which for many are pinnacle moments in life, is much more important than dates on the calendar,” said Weaver, who was also an assistant manager for U.S. Track and Field’s Team USA at the 2008 Games in Beijing, the 2012 Games in London and 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Star recently contacted Weaver as well as former KU Olympic track athletes Andrea Geubelle, Scott Huffman and Scott Russell and basketball Olympian Danny Manning, for their take on this postponement of the Games.
“It’s great to have clarity on dates now so that adjustments can begin,” Weaver said. “Every Olympics is special. The Tokyo Games will have a special meaning unlike any in my lifetime.”
Weaver, who was in charge of the Kansas Relays rain or shine from 2000 to 2006, lives in Shawnee, Kansas and works as vice president of corporate development for Chanje Energy, a Los Angeles-based electric truck manufacturer and “last mile” energy solutions provider.
“The Olympics represents the best of us,” Weaver said. “The Games bring diversity from all over the world into one place for a very special purpose. I really believe the Tokyo Games will be historically significant in helping reunite the world at a time when globally we will really need that kind of connection.
“My overall hope is the magic that is the Olympics will connect people all over the world — athletes, coaches, spectators, fans who are thousands of miles away. I hope the Olympic magic can bring the world what it will need in 2021.”
The sports world has come to a complete stop since the NBA’s decision to put its season on hold on March 11 in response to the pandemic. Olympic officials decided on March 23 that it would be unwise to bring together the world’s athletes and spectators this summer with the virus yet to be tamed.
The Games were originally set for July 24-Aug. 9 in Tokyo.
“When it comes to the actual implementation of a successful Games, I have a ton of faith in all of the different governing bodies involved,” Weaver said.
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the IOC, the Tokyo Organizing Committee, USA Track and Field and other groups have been in constant communication with health officials throughout the world as the coronavirus situation has developed.
“In all of our discussions the same thread is health, well-being and safety of everybody involved. That gives me great confidence moving forward,” Weaver said.
He acknowledged that “this is a massive shift and change (in delaying a year), but all of these groups, and our team included, have had a lot of practice in shifting and pivoting, and as information comes up there are a lot of things that were constants that are now variables. In the coming time period, soon enough, some of the variables will turn back into constants. We will plan and pivot and keep a high-energy attitude.
“From the athlete level and staff level, that’s one of the fundamental keys to success. Environment and conditions at a global event are often in flux. It’s important to pivot, adjust and see the positive.”
Here are some thoughts from other KU Olympians on the recently announced postponement.
Andrea Geubelle, 21st in triple jump, 2016 Games in Rio
Former KU long jumper/triple jumper Geubelle, who’s been training for the 2020 Games, said “initially there was relief,” in hearing the Olympics would be put on hold a year. Until the March 23 announcement, there was great uncertainty, she said.
“Now you could focus on the health and safety of those around you and not be selfish and get out and get workouts done,” said Geubelle, who works as director of donor events and hospitality for KU’s Williams Fund and lives and trains in Lawrence.
“I fully support it. The health of our world is much more important and safety of everyone is more important than individual accolades we can achieve,” she said.
Geubelle said outright cancellation of the 2020 Games — meaning no Olympics until Paris 2024 — would have been tough to handle.
“So many people have worked so hard for this,” she said. “So many have already qualified for it. I’d be devastated for those people if the opportunity was stripped away from them.
“If you tell us we have to go another four years, you’d lose a lot of people. Four years is a long time. I can attest how I felt four years ago and now.”
The 28-year-old Geubelle, who is married with full-time employment, noted that a four-year delay would’ve caused some athletes great financial hardship. Even this one-year delay will be difficult for many of them.
“I am extremely fortunate. I have a full-time job working for people who are extremely supportive,” said the three-time NCAA champion. “I have a husband. I have a house. I have a happy life. Some people do not have that.”
Even Geubelle has had to alter her long-range plans.
“It’s a little heartbreaking because I was planning on retiring after this year,” she said. “I was excited this being the last hurrah, seeing where life took me after that. A year can be a long time. I’ve battled some injuries. Right now, I’ll focus on my body and mind and my family. I have the opportunity to get really healthy and see where life takes me. We don’t know what will happen in general.
“It’s easy to get wrapped up in, ‘What if I do this and that happens?’ I’m just going to step back and let it happen,” she said.
Scott Huffman, 13th in pole vault, 1996 Games in Atlanta
Huffman, a two-time All-American at KU who competed at the Olympic Trials in 1988, ’92 and ’96 and qualified for the 1996 Games on his last go-round, was asked to put himself in the position of today’s Olympic hopefuls.
“If this happened to me, I’d be very happy they are still having the Olympics. I know guys on the ’80 team never got their shot to be in the Olympics. Obviously it was very disappointing,” Huffman said of the athletes who were denied a spot in the 1980 Moscow Olympics because of the U.S. boycott.
“This is the pinnacle for those who compete in track and field. It’s the level everybody wants to reach. To have it taken away … it’s devastating,” Huffman said.
An oncology executive specialist for Novartis who lives in Lawrence, Huffman said he was “kind of surprised” at the decision to move the Games to 2021.
“It’s pretty wise as a precaution, not knowing how long the pandemic will take place,” he said.
Like Geubelle, Huffman said even this postponement will have negative consequences for some athletes.
“It depends where you are in your career. If they held the ’96 Trials in ’97, I don’t know if I’d have made the team. I’d have been 32, not 31,” Huffman said. “Being an older athlete could be a negative because of possible Injury, (because of) age. For a younger athlete, they might need a year of maturity and this could actually help them. Finances involved in training can take some out of it. (But) it’s definitely a good thing they are having it, not canceling it.”
Huffman said fulfilling the Olympic dream was so important to him that he would have competed in the Games back in his day even if the event was held amid coronavirus concerns.
“With not a teeny bit (of reservation),” Huffman said. “Like I told reporters in ‘96, the morning I flew to Atlanta, the bomb (at Olympic Park) had gone off the night before.
“When I got to Atlanta, the reporters asked me, ‘Are you afraid to compete?’ I said, ‘No. We put so much into it. This is what we train our whole lives for. I am not staying home because of the bombing.’ I would definitely go (to Tokyo).”
Scott Russell, 10th in javelin, 2008 Games in Beijing
Russell, a teacher and coach at Basehor-Linwood Middle School, was flying a kite with family members, just getting out of the house for a bit, when contacted by The Star about the 2020 Games.
“It would have been a shame had they been canceled. I think this is a smart decision in terms of the well-being of humans,” Russell said.
Russell, who competed for the Canadian National Team, said a delay for even a year would have hurt his chances of qualifying for the Games.
“In ’08, if the same thing happens, I am a totally different case,” he said. “In ’09 I had health problems and didn’t compete in ‘09 and ‘10. I wouldn’t be an Olympian if the year was ’08. Things in a year can really change.
“It’s good to see organizing bodies are saying those who are qualified now are good to go next year (and won’t have to qualify again),” he added.
Russell placed second in the 2002 Commonwealth Games and still holds the Canadian javelin record (84.81 meters in July 2011). He hopes current competitors are able to see the bright side.
“It comes with a little bit of a mental game. You accept it’s not happening this year. You say, ‘I’ve got another 12 months to get better,’” he said.
“Can injuries happen? Yes. If you have a negative mindset, you’ll get injured. It’s almost a self-fulfilling prophecy,” he continued. “Now you say, ’Maybe I can use these 12 months to get better and now maybe I can win a medal.’ It depends on a person’s perspective.
“Who knows? The Summer Olympics may be the greatest ever because of the energy now behind it.”
Russell said it was rewarding to compete on the world stage for his homeland of Canada in 2008.
“I think if this was happening in ’08 and I was qualified, I think I’d want to go (even with the risks),” he said. “For me the Olympics was everything I imagined. It took 28 years of my life to get to that major goal. To have it taken away would have been difficult.”
All individuals interviewed by The Star stressed the importance of listening to government officials and obeying rules regarding social distancing.
Russell realizes it’s a big sacrifice for folks to stay cooped up in their homes.
“It is such an ingrained part of what we do in terms of Canada and U.S. families,” Russell said of following sports and competing in sports. “Growing up in a sports family, it’s hard to grasp there’s nothing going on out there, as I watch my neighbor and his son shooting hoops. I can’t wrap my mind around it. When has sports stopped around the entire globe? It’s very weird.
“If there are some positives it is closeness of families. I can’t be engaged with kids at my job right now. But I can enjoy my family and be thankful when I can be engaged at my job again.”
Danny Manning, bronze medal in basketball, 1988 Games in Seoul
Manning, sixth-year head basketball coach at Wake Forest, said he agreed with the decision to delay the Games.
“I thought given what is going on, it was a good decision to be honest,” said Manning, KU’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. “A lot of questions need to be answered. Fears need to be addressed in terms of the virus. And how are we going to move forward and handle situations like this?
“I get it. I understand it. For us (at Wake Forest), it happened quickly. From a college campuses standpoint, getting to the situation we are now in in terms of social distancing. It was an abrupt stop to our lifestyle. It is a very serious situation.”
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 10:54 AM with the headline "Jayhawks discuss postponement of Tokyo Olympics: In ’21, Games can ‘reunite the world’."
