Japan and the International Olympic Committee have agreed to postpone the Tokyo 2020 summer games until next year because of the coronavirus pandemic, ending weeks of speculation and marking the first time the games have been called off during peacetime.

Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, proposed the delay during a phone call on Tuesday with IOC president Thomas Bach, president of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee Yoshiro Mori, and others. The proposal was to be discussed at a meeting of the IOC’s executive board later on Tuesday. 

“In order to ensure that athletes can play under the best conditions and to make it a safe games for the audience, I have proposed that [the IOC] consider an approximate delay of one year,” Mr Abe told reporters after the call, adding that Mr Bach “agreed 100 per cent” with his suggestion.