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The Olympics in Tokyo have officially been rearranged for July 23, 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Games were scheduled to open on July 24 this year, with the Paralympics due to have started on August 25.

But both events had to be postponed due to the pandemic that has turned the sporting world upside down - a decision unprecedented in peacetime.

Given the ongoing pandemic and need for preparation time, the Games to now begin on July 23 next year.

(Image: FRANCK ROBICHON/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

Tokyo 2020 organising committee president Yoshiro Mori recently said he would be sitting down with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach to discuss the rearranged date.

"Opinions on both sides have been compiled, whether spring or summer, there are opinions for both options," said Mori this week.

"They both have advantages and disadvantages that are being compared, and then will be decided.

"This has also been reported to Chairman Bach. We expect to hear from Chairman Bach most likely this week."

Athletes will be relieved at the rescheduled date, as they attempt to keep up their rigorous training schedules during the pandemic.

World Athletics president Lord Sebastian Coe insists the decision to scrap this year's Games has saved participants from weeks of mental turmoil.

Coe said: "We didn't want to have the athletes in a position where they were countering government advice, maybe even breaking the law.

"We just wanted to take them out of that mental turmoil as quickly as we possibly could.

"We're no different from everyone else out there but I think we just concluded that sport, on this occasion, had to take a back seat."

Team GB reacted to the news today with a Tweet, saying: "We will be ready. New dates announced for #Tokyo2020."