Coronavirus Prompts Budget Cut for U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee

The global spread of coronavirus has led to officials postponing the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. For athletes, the delay evokes mixed emotions. WSJ spoke to five athletes from around the globe to understand what the postponement means to them. Photo composite by George Downs

CEO says long-term trims needed but pledges to maintain 2020 funding to sports governing bodies and athletes in wake of Tokyo Games postponement

Facing a one-year delay to the Summer Olympics and an economy devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee plans to cut its budget 10-20% through 2024, CEO Sarah Hirshland said.

Since the USOPC’s current four-year budget tops $1 billion, those reductions could translate into up to $200 million or more in cuts by 2024.