World Sailing confirmed that the 2020 49erFX Asian Championship and the 2020 Nacra 17 Asian Championship would now both be held in Genoa.

They will take place as part of the Sailing World Cup which will take place in the Mediterranean city between April 12 and 19.

The 2020 49erFX Asian Championship in the women's skiff class was due to take place in Hainan in China between March 20 and 29.

Shanghai was the previous host of the Nacra 17 Asian Championship, with competition in the mixed multihull event originally planned for March 1 to 6.

There is now even more importance on the event in Genoa as it was already the last opportunity for European sailors to qualify for Tokyo 2020.

Coronavirus has forced the cancellation or postponement of numerous sporting events.

There are now more than 69,000 cases and 1,600 deaths since the outbreak originated in Chinese city Wuhan.

Twenty-nine countries and territories have confirmed patients but the vast majority of people affected are in China.

A global health emergency has been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

John Coates, the chairman of the International Olympic Committee's Coordination Commission for Tokyo 2020, said the WHO had told the body there is "no case" for cancelling or postponing the Games, however.

The Olympics are due to be held between July 24 and August 9.