Australia pulls athletes out of 2020 Games, eyes 2021

FILE PHOTO: The giant Olympic rings are seen in the dusk at the waterfront area at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The coronavirus pandemic prompted Australia to withdraw its athletes from the 2020 Olympics on Monday while the nation's top rugby league competition was called off and other domestic sports scrambled to stave off financial ruin.

With its athletes unable to train or prepare properly due to 'social distancing' and a clampdown on travel, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said it could no longer assemble a team for the July 24-Aug. 9 Games in Tokyo.