Tokyo Olympics deferred for coronavirus; first for the Games in peacetime

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed to no later than the summer of 2021 after telephone discussions between IOC president and Japanese Prime Minister.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed to no later than the summer of 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, the International Olympic Committee announced Tuesday.

The Games were scheduled for July 24-August 9, but after telephone discussions between IOC president Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a historic joint decision was taken for the first postponement of an Olympics in peacetime.

Abe had earlier said Bach was in "100 percent agreement" when Japan asked the IOC to push back the Games.