Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that this summer’s Olympic Games could be postponed due to the coronavirus if countries plan to skip the event.
Canada and Australia announced Sunday it would not send its athletes to the games as currently scheduled. For the first time Monday, Abe acknowledged the event could be delayed.
“If it’s difficult to proceed in its complete form, then we must think about the athletes first and consider postponing,” Abe said.
The International Olympic Committee said Sunday it would make its decision of whether the games will go on as scheduled within the next four weeks.
On Monday, President Trump tweeted the United States would follow Japan’s lead of whether to send athletes to the Olympics. So far, Canada and Australia are the only countries to announce it would not attend this year, but others like Brazil, Norway and Slovenia requested the Olympics be postponed.
“We will be guided by the wishes of Prime Minister Abe of Japan, a great friend of the United States and a man who has done a magnificent job on the Olympic Venue, as to attending the Olympic Games in Japan. He will make the proper decision!” Trump tweeted.
The Tokyo Games are planned to start July 24 and last until Aug. 9.
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