Japanese Prime Minister Abe said on Tuesday (24 March 2020) that International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has agreed "100%" to a proposal of postponing Tokyo Summer Olympics for about one year.

Speaking in Tokyo, Abe said he asked for a one-year postponement because holding the Games later this year would be difficult given the current global spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

He said he expects the pandemic will be over and the Olympics can be held by the summer of 2021 at the latest.

Abe said that the Japanese organisers and Bach reaffirmed that there will be no cancellation of the Tokyo Summer Games.