On a day of unprecedented financial and logistical turmoil in sport, crisis talks between the International Olympic Commission and the Japanese government ended with an acceptance that the world’s biggest multi-sports event must be postponed for the first time in its 124-year history.

Sports and athletes are now awaiting confirmation of a new date, likely to be summer 2021,

The Olympics have previously only been cancelled completely during periods of World War - in 1916, 1940 and 1944 - but never postponed or suspended. Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe said that he had proposed the one-year delay and that IOC president Thomas Bach was in total agreement.