Tokyo Summer Olympics Will Be Postponed Due To Coronavirus, Japan Says

Virus Outbreak Olympics Tokyo 2020 — A woman pauses for photos next to the Olympic rings near the New National Stadium in Tokyo, Monday, March 23, 2020. The IOC will take up to four weeks to consider postponing the Tokyo Olympics amid mounting criticism of its handling of the coronavirus crisis that now includes a call for delay from the leader of track and field, the biggest sport at the games.

By Bill Chappell

March 24, 2020

The Tokyo Summer Olympics will not begin in late July and instead will be held "by the summer of 2021," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Tuesday. The news follows growing calls for the games to be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abe revealed the decision to journalists after speaking by phone with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. Abe's office said via Twitter, "the two have agreed that the Tokyo Olympic Games would not be cancelled, and the games will be held by the summer of 2021."

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee joined those calling for a postponement on Tuesday, releasing a statement saying that after speaking with athletes on the team, the committee had concluded that "the enormous disruptions to the training environment, doping controls and qualification process can't be overcome in a satisfactory manner."

The U.S. committee urged the IOC to ensure that the Tokyo games are "conducted under safe and fair conditions for all competitors."