(CNN) Japan's deputy prime minister has pointed to the history of the Olympics to explain why the Tokyo 2020 Games have been "cursed" by the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Taro Aso has suggested that the Olympics get entwined in global affairs every 40 years, saying it is no surprise the virus, which has infected nearly 220,000 people worldwide, should threaten to cancel or postpone this year's Games.

World War II forced the 1940 Summer and Winter Games in Japan to be canceled, while in 1980, the United States led a boycott of the Games in protest against the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.

"The Sapporo Winter Olympics, which should have happened in 1940, went away, the next Moscow games in 1980 was half blown away because of the boycott of Western countries," Aso said.

Taro Aso addresses parliament earlier this month.

"Another 40 years makes it this year. The mass media would love this expression if I say it's a cursed Olympics -- but it's a reality."