The Asian Cross-Country Championships in Hong Kong on March 29 has been postponed due to coronavirus ©AAA

The Asian Athletics Association (AAA) has confirmed the Asian Cross-Country Championships in Hong Kong has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The competition had been scheduled to take place in Hong Kong on March 29.

A statement from the AAA confirmed the event has been postponed, with the event now likely to take place in either November or December.

"The Asian AA Council has decided to postpone the 15th Asian Cross-Country Championships to November/December 2020, after much discussion with Hongkong Amateur Athletic Association on the Covid - 19 issue," a statement read.

"Hong Kong was to host this event on 29th March 2020.

"However, taking into consideration the welfare and safety of our athletic family at heart, this decision was the most appropriate at the time.

"The actual date will be announced once it has been confirmed in due course."

Precautions are being taken in several countries to curb the spread of the outbreak ©Getty Images
Precautions are being taken in several countries to curb the spread of the outbreak ©Getty Images

The outbreak of coronavirus - given the official name of COVID-19 by the World Health Organization – has impacted numerous sporting events.

Several sporting events have been cancelled, postponed or relocated, with competitions in Asia heavily impacted.

The outbreak began in Chinese city Wuhan.

There have now been more than 80,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,700 deaths.

Thirty-seven countries and territories have confirmed patients, but the overwhelming majority have been in China itself.