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Coronavirus Forces Delay of 2020 Olympics

VOA News

   Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday the 2020 Olympics will
   be postponed until the summer of 2021 at the latest because of the
   growing coronavirus pandemic.

   The Olympic games were scheduled to begin in Tokyo on July 24.

   Abe announced the one-year delay after holding talks by telephone with
   International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.

   Abe said previously said a delay was unavoidable if all the events
   could not be carried out as planned.

   Abe said Tuesday the postponement came after months of escalating
   pressure from some countries and athletes.

   A joint statement issued by the IOC and the Tokyo 2020 organizing
   committee said the postponement was necessary to "safeguard the health
   of the athletes, international community, everybody involved in the
   Olympic Games and the international community."

   The delay inched closer to reality on Sunday when the national Olympic
   committee in Canada said it was pulling out of the games, and
   Australia's committee members informed its athletes they could not
   adequately train for the summer games after coronavirus control
   restrictions were imposed.

   The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee called on the IOC to delay
   the games on Monday after declining to take a position.

   Japan has spent more than $10 billion over the past seven years to
   prepare for the Olympics.

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