Report: Tokyo Olympics postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak

EJ Obiena will headline the Philippine team in the Tokyo Olympics, which could be push by a year.

By Gil Mar Moriones

MANILA - International Olympic Committee Dick Pound announced early Tuesday that the upcoming Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan from July 24-Aug. 9 is postponed in amidst of COVID-19 outbreak.

"On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided," Pound told Christine Brennan of USA Today. "The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know."

The IOC has yet to make an official statement regarding the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics as of posting.

Earlier, Canada and Australia already announced their withdrawal from participating in the games, and both countries urged the IOC to postpone the quadrennial meet to 2021, something that, according to Pound, is now imminent.

Also, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the event is unlikely to convene.

Majority of the qualifying tournaments have been already canceled.

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