TOKYO, March 23 -- The Japanese government is set to tell the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that if it decides to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it will accept the IOC's decision, sources familiar with the matter said Monday.

The latest development comes after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday hinted for the first time at the possibility the forthcoming summer games could be postponed if they could not be held in their "complete form" amid the pandemic.

"If it is difficult to hold the games in such a way, we have to decide to postpone it, giving top priority to the health of the athletes," the Japanese leader told a parliamentary session on the matter.

Abe had previously said that Japan was still pushing ahead to host the games in their "complete form," meaning as per the current schedule and in front of spectators.

But the latest remarks from the Japanese leader now suggest the plausibility that the summer games could be postponed due to global spread of the pneumonia-causing virus and the danger this poses to athletes and spectators.

"I think many of them are in areas where they cannot train properly as the new coronavirus is spreading in the world," Abe said, adding "This applies not just to our country, it is important that all participating nations can participate in good condition."

Abe's remarks were made a day after the IOC said that it is exploring a number of scenarios amid the pandemic, including the possibility of postponing the games.

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