Japan's Abe: "IOC President Agrees to One-Year Postponement of Olympics" (Breaking)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunbyeol Kim] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on the 24th that he has reached a consensus with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on postponing the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games by about one year.

After a phone call with IOC President Thomas Bach that evening, Prime Minister Abe told reporters, "I proposed to President Bach the idea of postponing the Olympics by about one year, and President Bach agreed."

Initially, Prime Minister Abe intended to proceed with the Olympics despite the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but as the virus spread worldwide and calls to postpone the Olympics gained momentum, he appears to have changed his stance. Another reason cited for postponing the Olympics is the high possibility of failure in attracting audiences even if the Games were held as scheduled.

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