JAPANESE PRIME minister Shinzo Abe has confirmed that the Tokyo Olympics will be delayed by one year in a conference call with Games chiefs due to the coronavirus crisis.

The greatest sports show on Earth was set to due to begin on July 24, but organisers have agreed to a one-year postponement of the event because of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Abe said the International Olympic Committee had agreed to the delay.

“I proposed to postpone for a year and [IOC] president Thomas Bach responded with 100% agreement,” he said.

A one-year delay would also apply to the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

The Prime Minister continued: “This will make it possible for athletes to play in the best condition, and will make the event a safe and secure one for spectators.”

Several countries, including Canada and Australia, had already said that their athletes would not be competing. while the British Olympic Association was unlikely to send a team to Tokyo.

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