Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, walks past Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto, right, to attend a cabinet meeting at his official residence in Tokyo Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Hashimoto said the global pandemic of coronavirus infections should end before Japan can proceed with hosting the Tokyo Olympic Games, after the meeting. Tokyo's organizers and International Olympic Committee are discussing a possible postponement and other scenarios. Abe and IOC President Thomas Bach are expected to hold telephone talks later Tuesday. At left is Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. (Yoshitaka Sugawara/Kyodo News via AP)
Republished March 24, 2020 - 5:46 AM
Original Publication Date March 24, 2020 - 5:01 AM
TOKYO - IOC President Thomas Bach has agreed “100%” to a proposal of postponing the Tokyo Olympics for about one year until 2021 because of the coronavirus outbreak, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday.
Abe said after his telephone talks with Bach that he requested a postponement “taking into consideration the current circumstances” and to secure an environment in which athletes can perform at their best and crowds can be safe and secure.
He added that he hoped to reschedule the Olympics as a proof of human victory over the coronavirus pandemic.
Abe held telephone talks with Bach after the IOC said it would make a decision on the Tokyo Games over the next four weeks.
Abe said he expects the pandemic to be over by next year and the Olympics can be held by the summer of 2021 at the latest.
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