The decision comes after the local Government banned events involving more than 50 people until the end of April.

Organisers said almost 2,000 delegates were expected to attend the event, making it infeasible for the summit to take place.

It was due to begin on April 19 and run for six days.

The summit, attended by officials from across the Olympic Movement, had been relocated to Lausanne from Beijing because of the coronavirus outbreak.

"Our priority is the health and welfare of our International Federations and delegates attending our event, so this decision has been taken with the utmost consideration for those who were planning to attend SportAccord 2020 in Lausanne", SportAccord President Raffaele Chiulli said.

"This is obviously an extremely unfortunate situation and we are saddened that our community will not be able to attend our annual gathering, but we wanted to announce this decision at the earliest opportunity to enable plans to be adapted accordingly for all concerned."

Switzerland borders northern Italy, the area in Europe impacted worst by the coronavirus pandemic.

Italy has in excess of 17,000 COVID-19 cases and the death toll in the country has passed 1,260.

SportAccord managing director Nis Hatt said "every effort" had been made to stage the event in 2020, but ultimately it was not possible.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused, but in taking the decision to cancel the event at this stage, we have endeavoured to minimise the potential disruption to our delegates’ plans," Hatt added.

"SportAccord is very grateful for the support of the City of Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, International Olympic Committee, partners, exhibitors, and delegates in recent weeks. 

"We are now focusing on the delivery of what promises to be a superb SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021 in Ekaterinburg and we look forward to welcoming our friends from around the world to Russia from May 23-28 2021."

The pandemic has brought almost all elite-level sport to a halt, with leagues and competitions in all six populated continents postponed or cancelled as authorities attempt to curb the spread of the virus.