安倍表示，有權取消或推遲奧運會的是國際奧委會，在是否取消東京奧運會這一選項上，自己與國際奧委會想法一致。
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that postponing this summer's Tokyo Olympics was an option if the Games cannot be held in a "complete form" due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"If the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision means it becomes impossible to hold [the Olympics] in a 'complete form,' as I have previously said, then a decision may have to be made to postpone them," Abe said.
國際奧委會22日在官網釋出公告稱，因為新冠病毒引起的健康問題，國際奧委會將正式考慮進行東京奧運的“情景規劃”，“情景”包括如期舉行和推遲舉行東京奧運。國際奧委會表示有信心在四周時間內完成關於這個問題的討論並公佈最終決定，並且強調：取消奧運會不在考慮範圍內。
國際奧委會也承認，推遲奧運將面臨奧運場館空置、大批酒店訂單取消等一系列挑戰。
Abe's remarks to parliament came after the IOC on Sunday discussed stepping up its "scenario planning" for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The IOC is considering a postponement of Tokyo 2020, and has given itself a deadline of four weeks to make a decision, according to an IOC statement on its official website.
"To safeguard the health of all involved and to contribute to the containment of COVID-19, the Executive Board (EB) of the IOC today (March 22) announced that the IOC will step up its scenario-planning for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020," read the statement.
"These scenarios relate to modifying existing operational plans for the Games to go ahead on 24 July 2020, and also for changes to the start date of the Games."
The IOC will start detailed discussions to complete its assessment of the rapid development of the worldwide health situation and its impact on the Olympic Games, including the scenario of postponement.
Also, IOC emphasized that "a cancellation of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would not solve any of the problems or help anybody. Therefore, cancellation is not on the agenda."
IOC president's letter to athletes
同樣在當地時間22日，國際奧委會主席巴赫向全世界的奧林匹克運動員發出了一封公開信。巴赫在信中解釋了國際奧委會當前面臨的困難並對運動員們的失望表示理解，同時也強調“生命高於一切，包括奧運會的舉行”。
In a letter addressed to athletes on March 22, IOC President Thomas Bach tried to explain IOC's insistence in the past weeks to proceed as planned, saying moving the Games could not happen from one day to the next and many parts had to be looked at.
"Human lives take precedence over everything, including the staging of the Games. The IOC wants to be part of the solution. Therefore we have made it our leading principle to safeguard the health of everyone involved, and to contribute to containing the virus," Bach wrote.
"I think I can feel with those among you who consider the situation to be unsatisfactory," he added.
"I know that this unprecedented situation leaves many of your questions open. I also know this rational approach may not be in line with the emotions many of you have to go through.
"A decision about a postponement today could not determine a new date for the Olympic Games because of the uncertain developments in both directions: an improvement ... in a number of countries ... or a deteriorating situation in other countries."
Supportive of IOC's postponement plan
過往歷史中，奧運會從未在和平時期延期或取消。但這一次，國際奧委會考慮推遲比賽的決定得到了包括國際田聯、國際殘疾人奧林匹克委員會（IPC）和幾個主要國家奧林匹克委員會在內的利益相關者的支援。
The Olympics has never been postponed or cancelled during peacetime but the IOC's decision to even consider postponement was met with relief from several major stakeholders, including World Athletics, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and major national Olympic committees.cc
東京殘奧會原定於今年8至9月在夏季奧運會之後舉行，IPC日前表示，國際奧委會在目前的情況下做出了正確的決定。
"The next four weeks will provide time to see if the global health situation improves, while giving a window of opportunity to look into different scenarios should the dates of the Games need to be changed," IPC president Andrew Parsons said.
作為世界田徑運動的全球管理機構，國際田聯則表示願意與國際奧委會和其他所有運動專案在另一日期合作。
"An Olympic Games in July this year is neither feasible nor desirable," World Athletics' president Sebastian Coe said in a letter to Bach requesting the Games be moved from July.
"However, we urge rapid decision-making for the sake of athletes who still face significant uncertainty," said Hugh Robertson, chairman of British Olympic Association.
"Restrictions now in place have removed the ability of athletes to compete on a level playing field and it simply does not seem appropriate to continue on the present course towards the Olympic Games in the current environment."
一貫對國際奧委會的觀望態度表示支援的美國奧運和殘奧委員會(USOPC)在最新表態中釋出了不一樣的態度。USOPC在宣告中表示歡迎進一步的討論，但這並不能解決不斷增長的不確定性和運動員的焦慮。
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), which has been supportive of the IOC's wait and see position, expressed a different tone to the latest update saying in a statement it welcomed some clarity but did little to address growing uncertainty and athlete anxiety.
"The progress reflected in today's IOC update to the global athlete community is an important step in providing clarity, but our athlete community continues to face enormous ambiguity surrounding the 2020 Games in Tokyo," said USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland and USOPC athletes' advisory council chair Han Xiao in a joint statement.
"Having spent countless hours communicating with IOC leadership, our peers around the world, the athletes we serve, we know the difficult obstacles ahead and we are all appreciative that the IOC has heard our concerns and needs, and is working to address them as quickly as possible."
當地時間22日，加拿大奧委會和殘奧委釋出宣告，表示加拿大將不會派出運動員參加今夏的東京奧運會。在加拿大的聲明發出後不久，澳洲奧委會也發表了相似的宣告，稱鑑於國內外不斷變化的（疫情）情勢，澳洲代表隊今年夏天“無法集結”參加奧運會。
Australian Olympic officials Monday said they want to prioritize the health of athletes amid the pandemic and "an Australian Team could not be assembled in the changing circumstances at home and abroad." Australian officials said "it was clear" that the Tokyo Games could not go ahead as scheduled and told its athletes to instead prepare for the event in 2021. The decision was announced shortly after Canada said it's not sending athletes to Tokyo Games, which is due to be held in July despite both the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government shifting their tones on the timing of the Games.