Hosting the Olympics in Times of a Pandemic: Historical Insights from Antwerp 1920

Abstract

Postponing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to the global outbreak of COVID-19 marks a unique moment in the history of the Olympic Movement. For the first time since the cancelation of the Olympic Games during both World Wars, the Olympics will not take place as scheduled. This unprecedented postponement strongly impacts the Olympic Movement. Although only the future can tell exactly, the Antwerp 1920 Olympics can offer certain historical insights. Exactly 100 years ago, the Antwerp Olympic Games were the first Olympics organized after World War I and the Spanish flu pandemic. Their value in terms of rising the Olympic Movement from its ashes is vital. Profoundly promoting its identity, newly introduced Olympic symbols then helped avoiding the collapse of the Olympic Movement. Acknowledged as the “Games Reborn”, the Antwerp 1920 Olympics were strongly about recovery, helping to heal a wounded society. How could Tokyo 2020 fulfill the same role?

Keywords:

• Antwerp 1920
• COVID-19
• Olympics
• pandemic
• Tokyo 2020

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Jasper Truyens and Gerben Verbrugghe for sharing their valuable thoughts on a first draft of this paper.