The organizers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, due to begin on 24 July, have agreed to a one-year postponement of the event because of the global coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had agreed to the delay.
"I proposed to postpone for about a year and IOC President Thomas Bach responded with 100% agreement," Abe said.
On Sunday, the IOC came under further criticism after it announced that it was taking a four-week consultation before making a final decision.
Tokyo 2020’s fate was effectively sealed this week when Canada and Australia said they would not send athletes to Japan in July. Also, the British and French governments urged the IOC to make a quick decision.
A "heartbreaking decision"
On Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, “I know this is heartbreaking for so many people athletes, coaches, staff and fans but this was absolutely the right call, and everyone should follow their lead.”
The US Olympic and Paralympic committee followed suit, citing the “enormous” disruption the pandemic had caused to training and the qualification process.
