“We will impose the state of emergency in Tokyo. The period will be until August 22,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a government meeting on infection measures.

The Tokyo metropolitan government recorded 920 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, reaching a new high since the peak of Japan's fourth wave.

The 2020 Summer Olympics have been scheduled to be held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the event was postponed in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will not allow international spectators.

Despite being rescheduled for 2021, the event retains the Tokyo 2020 name for marketing and branding purposes.

This is the first time that the Olympic Games have been postponed and rescheduled, rather than canceled. (ILKHA)