Two years to go until the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on 24 July.
- Competition dates and session times set for Tokyo 2020 men’s and women’s rugby sevens
- Men’s competition kicks off on 27 July, women’s 1 August
- Women’s final will be played on iconic ‘Super Saturday’
- World Rugby anticipating outstanding sevens, Olympics
World Rugby and the global rugby family are celebrating two years to go until the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
With rugby sevens on a high after a spectacular and record-breaking Rugby World Cup Sevens that attracted over 100,000 fans in San Francisco, players and fans alike have been taking to social media to mark the milestone.
Sevens made an impressive Olympic Games debut at Rio 2016 with Australia’s women claiming the first rugby gold medal since the 1924 Games and Fiji’s men claiming their nation’s first-ever Olympic medal, with a historic gold that captured hearts around the world.
Last week, the International Olympic Committee approved the competition schedule for all 33 sports at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and rugby sevens will again feature in the first week of competition with matches being played across six days of two sessions per day from 27 July to 1 August.
In a reverse of the Rio 2016 format, the men’s competition will be played over the first three days, while the women’s competition will take place over the final three days, with the medals day being played on the iconic ‘Super Saturday’.
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “This is the moment that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games comes alive for our players and fans around the world. With two years to go, the competition dates are set, excitement is building, and I am anticipating an outstanding sevens and Games.
“By alternating the schedule, the world’s top women’s teams have the opportunity to shine on ‘Super Saturday’, the biggest moment of the Games, which is extremely exciting for the advancement and popularity of women’s sevens.”
To mark the two years to go milestone the global rugby family is supporting Tokyo 2020’s social media campaign by encouraging players and unions to post images with the international sign for peace as demonstrated by Japan men’s rugby sevens captain Dai Ozawa above at the Rugby World Cup Sevens last weekend.
The ‘V’ sign is the most popular gesture made in Japan when a photo is taken and also symbolises the number two. The campaign will use the hashtags #Tokyo2020 and #2yearstogo.
