Tokyo: The International Olympic Committee has postponed the 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games on Tuesday amid COVID-19 pandemic. The Games were scheduled for July 24-August 9, but after telephone discussions between IOC president Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a joint decision was taken for the first postponement of an Olympics in peacetime. However, the Tokyo Olympic Games would not be cancelled as it will be held by the summer of 2021.
"After his telephone talks with IOC President Bach, PM Abe spoke to the press and explained that the two have agreed that the Tokyo Olympic Games would not be cancelled, and the games will be held by the summer of 2021," Japan PM's official twitter handle stated.
Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has proposed a one-year postponement for the Tokyo Olympics during talks with IOC president Thomas Bach on Tuesday.
Abe maintained that a postponement is unavoidable if the 2020 Games cannot be held in a complete manner amid the coronavirus pandemic.
He was speaking to the reporters after a phone call with IOC President Bach on postponing the Games amid growing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tokyo had completed preparations when the virus started spreading across the world. Despite insisting for months the Olympics would go ahead as planned, Abe this week said a delay may be unavoidable if the events could not be held in a complete form.
The agreement comes after rising calls around the world to cancel or postpone the games. Canada has already decided not to send their Olympic contingent should the Games happen in 2020. Australia too followed Canada's footsteps.
Tokyo last hosted the Olympics in 1964. The 1940 Summer Games, originally to be held in the capital of Japan, were cancelled because of World War II.
The Bank of Japan estimated 33 million visitors were set to visit Tokyo in 2020 and “aggregate construction investment associated with the Olympic Games will amount to a total of 10 trillion yen.”
