The Tokyo 2020 Games has been ‘delayed’ by one year due to the coronavirus crisis.
The move has the support of the Japanese government after Abe told the IOC that his nation will accept a delay to the Games of 12 months in a conference call on Tuesday.
Abe made the announcement during a call with IOC president Thomas Bach and Organising Committee chief Yoshiro Mori.
It follows comments by Powell that the Games would not be taking place this summer.
Pound said: ‘On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided. The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know”.