Proposed new date for Tokyo Olympics may be in doubt with the escalating nature of COVID-19 in Japan

The Tokyo Olympics may not be able to go ahead in 2021 as planned due to the escalating nature of coronavirus in Japan.

This is according to Organising Committee chief executive Toshiro Muto.

Last month, the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government agreed to postpone the Games, due to start in July this year, to 2021 because of the impact of coronavirus, which has infected more than 1.6 million people worldwide and killed 100,000.

Since the announcement, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a state of emergency to combat the virus, putting the country under strict restrictions after it initially seemed it had avoided the spread.

Even though the new Games are 16 months away, Muto has warned that 2021 could still be too ambitious.

He says he does not think anyone would be able to say if it is going to be possible to get it under control by next July or not.

Muto says they are certainly not in a position to give a clear answer.

He adds they have made the decision to postpone the games by one year adding so this means that all they can do is work hard to prepare for the Games.

He says they sincerely hope that come next year mankind will manage to overcome the coronavirus crisis.

Naveel Source; Newshub