'It's clear the Games can't be held': Australian Olympic Committee push for Tokyo Games delay

Athletes have been told to prepare for a 12-month postponement of the Olympic Games with the Australian Olympic Committee prepared to boycott the event amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

AOC chief executive Matt Carroll is anticipating the International Olympic Committee will push the Tokyo Games back to 2021 with athletes now facing the prospect of a five-year Olympic cycle.

It could throw the Opals basketball star's playing future into disarray given the Canberra Capitals co-captain has been eyeing a move to play overseas next year.

But the chance to stay on home soil and look after her body heading into an Olympic year could play a key role in keeping Tolo with the Capitals.

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"To be honest I have no idea yet. I'm just working through that. I was thinking about going overseas next season but I have to really take into light all this stuff about coronavirus too," Tolo said.

"You have to consider all the facts and it's going to make things difficult. Staying here could be an option. It's just hard to say, because you just don't know how long this thing is going to stretch out.

"Whether it's going to be over in a couple of months or whether it drags on for a year or more, who knows? You've just got to take it a little bit at a time. I've got a bit of thinking to do.

"[Postponing the Olympics] devastating but at the same time it's in the interests of the welfare of everybody. It's bigger than sport, it's about safety and health and wellbeing."

The IOC is poised to make a decision within the next four weeks regarding the status of the Tokyo Games but Australian athletes are already looking ahead to next year.

AOC chief Carroll has labelled the prospect of preparing for the tournament to go ahead this year is "untenable" in the wake of strict travel restrictions designed to halt the spread of coronavirus.

The COVID-19 crisis has sent sports into meltdown across the globe and the Olympics looms as the next domino to fall with barely any professional competitions left standing.

The Australian Paralympic Committee is standing with the AOC's decision to push for the postponement of the Games.

It comes as rival countries threaten to follow in Canada's footsteps by withdrawing teams from competing in Tokyo.

"We have athletes based overseas, training at central locations around Australia as teams and managing their own programs. With travel and other restrictions this becomes an untenable situation," Carroll said.

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"The IOC had adopted the key principles of putting athlete health first and ensuring it acted in their best interests and the interests of sport. This decision reflects those principles.

"We are now in a position where we can plan with greater certainty.

"I would like to thank AOC Athletes' Commission Chair Steve Hooker for his valuable contribution to discussions today and over the last week, representing the views of our athletes."

Angst has risen amid calls to postpone the Olympics planned for July-August as the coronavirus pandemic intensifies around the globe.

Australian athletes could be prevented from participating should the Games go ahead due to the Australian government's indefinite international travel ban.

For now the likes of Tolo and her Opals teammates have been told to focus on developing the mental side of their game while completing physical training in isolation.

It comes after indoor sporting venues and gyms were included in a shutdown of all "non-essential" services announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

"We don't have access to courts or gyms because everything is shut down. I'm going to have a bit of cabin fever for the next couple of weeks," Tolo said.

"You can only control what you can, so we're trying to stay in shape at the moment. The physical side of things might be relaxed a bit but you can focus on those other things a little bit more."

Australian Team Chef de Mission for Tokyo Ian Chesterman has communicated with competitors after receiving feedback from athletes from more than 25 sports last week.

"It's clear the Games can't be held in July," Chesterman said.

"Our athletes have been magnificent in their positive attitude to training and preparing, but the stress and uncertainty has been extremely challenging for them.

"They have also shouldered the burden of concern for their peers around the world. That has been a consistent message to me.

"While there will still be much to work out as a result of this change, the timing will allow athletes from around the world to properly prepare with the hope the coronavirus crisis will be under control."

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