By: Reem Sameh

Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, announced postponing Tokyo Olympics until 2021 due to Coronavirus pandemic, after the approval of the International Olympic Committee.

After a meeting between Shinzo and the International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach. Abe said they had established that cancelling the Games was out of the question, and that Bach had agreed “100%” that a postponement was the most appropriate response to the global disruption.

“We agreed that a postponement would be the best way to ensure that the athletes are in peak condition when they compete and to guarantee the safety of the spectators,” Abe told reporters shortly after his conference call with Bach, adding that the Games would be held by the summer of 2021.

COVID-19 caused postponement of many tournaments around the world in the recent period, especially the European Nations Cup and Copa America.