The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed because of coronavirus, according to International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound.

Pound told USA TODAY Sports on Monday afternoon that the Games would likely take place in 2021 instead.

“On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided,” he said in a phone interview. 

“The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.”

"It will come in stages," he added. "We will postpone this and begin to deal with all the ramifications of moving this, which are immense."

On Monday both Canada and Australia said they would not be sending athletes to the event while Team GB all said they would withdraw from the Games should the spread continue as expected.

On Sunday, Olympic organisers said they had given themselves a four-week deadline in which to decide the fate of the Games, and now this decision has been made, the next on the roster will be the new date.

More to follow...