World Athletics are set to move next year's planned World Championships in Oregon forward a year because of the rearranged Olympic Games.
Eugene will host the eighteenth edition of the World Athletics Championships, but not in 2021 as originally thought.
The new dates for the Olympic Games (July 23 to August 8 2021) overlap with the planned start of the Worlds on August 6.
Following the IOC announcement on Monday, World Athletics released a statement of their own saying they support the dates for the Tokyo 2021 games, adding that, "This gives our athletes the time they need to get back into training and competition".
They continue, "Everyone needs to be flexible and compromise and to that end we are now working with the organisers of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon on new dates in 2022 for our World Athletics Championships.
"We are also in discussions with the Commonwealth Games Federation and the European Championships.
"We would like to thank our Oregon 21 Organising Committee, their stakeholders and our partners for their collaboration and willingness to explore all options."
Munich's Olympiastadion is due to stage the 2022 European Athletics Championships from August 11 to 22, while the XXII Commonwealth Games are slated to be held in Birmingham.
Tour de France
Another major sporting event that could be discommoded by the Olympic deferral is the 2021 Tour de France.
While this year's Tour remains in the balance due to the coronavirus pandemic, next year's edition is due to get underway in Copenhagen on July 2 of next year and finish in Paris on July 25.
This year's Tour de France had been brought forward a week because of the Olympic Games, but the new Tokyo dates leave riders who hope to compete in both events scant time to make it to Japan.
Lions Tour
Meanwhile, British & Irish Lions Tour chiefs are adamant they're won't be an overlap between the Olympic Games and next year's Tour of South Africa.
Warren Gatland's side have three tests with the world champion Springboks, running almost concurrently with Tokyo 2021.
The Lions will be in Johannesburg on July 24, Cape Town a week later, and finish in Ellis Park on August 7.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to the postponement of the on-sale date for ballot tickets for the tour.
Regarding an overlap with the Olympics, Lions managing director Ben Calveley is quoted by The Guardian as saying, "We are determined to play our part in what will be an extraordinary summer of sport.
"There should not be any direct clashes with Lions matches and Olympic events given the time difference between South Africa and Tokyo, so fans should not miss out on any action.
"We are expecting a fantastic series against the world champions."
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