TOKYO 29 Mar (ANA) - Reports in Japanese media today suggest the Tokyo Olympics organisers are eyeing next July as a start date for the postponed Games.

Tokyo 2020 was scheduled to open on 24 July this year, with the Paralympics due to start on 25 August, but has been postponed because of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic - a decision unprecedented in peacetime.

Given the ongoing pandemic and need for preparation time, the most likely plan would be for the Games to begin on 23 July 2021, public broadcaster NHK said, citing sources within the organising panel.

Meanwhile, World Athletics president Lord Sebastian Coe says the decision to push back the Games has saved athletes from "mental turmoil", adding that sport had to "take a back seat".(ANA)

FA/ANA/29 March 2020-----