XtraTime Web Desk: Big news is coming as Japan has asked for a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games after the outbreak of global coronavirus pandemic, and the International Olympic Committee has agreed, the country’s prime minister said Tuesday.
“I proposed to postpone for about a year and president Bach responded with 100 percent agreement,” Shinzo Abe told reporters referring to Thomas Bach, head of the IOC.
After that PM’s Office of Japan also stated that,” After his telephone talks with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, PM Shinzo Abe spoke to the press & explained that the two have agreed that the Tokyo Olympic Games would not be cancelled, & the games will be held by the summer of 2021.”
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will talk to International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach on telephone later Tuesday, the government said, as doubts swirl over the fate of the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Canada and Australia have already withdrawn their teams and the influential US Olympic committee has also said postponement was the best way forward.
Despite coming under increasing pressure, IOC officials believe a decision would be “premature” four months from the scheduled opening ceremony on July 24.
Abe has said he is committed to hosting a “complete” Olympics but admitted for the first time on Monday: “If that becomes difficult, in light of considering athletes first, it may become inevitable that we make a decision to postpone.”