Call it an epic false start. After weeks of debate, denials and disapproval, the International Olympic Committee along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and local organizers have decided that the Tokyo Games cannot go ahead as scheduled this year because of the world-wide coronavirus pandemic.

The move came amidst growing frustration among countries, athletes and global health officials that the world’s largest sporting event had not already been cancelled. In recent days, several countries, led by Canada, had announced that their teams would not participate even if the Games were to take place.

As recently as March 18, the International Olympic Committee had stated that the Games would take place as planned, however on Tuesday Prime Minister Abe said that IOC president Thomas Bach had agreed “100 percent” to a proposal of postponing the Tokyo Olympics for about one year to the summer of 2021.

The decision on new dates would take about a month to confirm, with Olympic International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound, a Canadian, having told USA Today that the ramifications of postponing the event were “immense.”

Japan has reportedly already spent over US$12 billion preparing to host the Games, which had been scheduled to take place July 24 to Aug. 9. The Asian nation last hosted the Olympics in 1964.

In modern times, the Olympics (summer and winter) have been cancelled five times due to the two world wars, but a Games has never been postponed.

Abe added that he hoped to reschedule the Olympics as a proof of human victory over the coronavirus pandemic.

The next Winter Olympics are set to take place in Beijing, China from Feb. 4 to 20, 2022.