The dates for the re-arranged Olympics and Paralympics is expected to be the key topic discussed by the IOC and Tokyo 2020 following the postponement of the Games on Tuesday (March 24).

Coates, speaking to Japanese newspaper Yomiuri, reportedly claimed the Games would need to be scheduled between the Wimbledon and US Open tennis Grand Slam events.

"We want to more or less finalise the dates in four weeks' time," the Australian, a former IOC vice president and a key ally of IOC President Thomas Bach, said.

Wimbledon is currently scheduled to take place from June 28 to July 11 next year, with the US Open running from August 30 to September 12.

Tokyo 2020 had initially been due to run from July 24 to August 9 this year, with identical dates for next year's Games fitting between the two tennis events.

This would currently clash with both the World Athletics Championships and the World Swimming Championships, however.

World Athletics is due to hold its next World Championships in Oregon in the United States from August 6 to 15.

Despite this, they have revealed they may move their flagship event to 2022 to accommodate the Olympic Games.

FINA is in a similar predicament, with its World Championships due to take place from July 16 to August 1 in the Japanese city of Fukuoka.

The governing body have also pledged to be flexible regarding the dates of their major event, but have ruled out the prospect of postponing the competition to 2022.

Several other sports adapt their calendars to accommodate the Olympics in Games years.

This year's Tour de France will begin one week earlier than usual on June 27 and run until July 19, having been arranged to allow riders to participate at Tokyo 2020.

Tour de France organisers Amaury Sport Organisation declined to comment when asked by insidethegames whether the dates of next year's Grand Tour could be changed should Tokyo 2020 take place in July and August.

The race is currently due to run from July 2 to 25 next year, with the Grand Depart due to begin in Denmark.

insidethegames understands a recommendation on the timing of Tokyo 2020 will likely be made to the IOC Executive Board by the end of April.

IOC President Thomas Bach yesterday said the postponed Olympic Games would "not be restricted to the summer months".

Bach claimed all options were on the table for the rescheduling of the event.

The prospect of a spring Olympics in Japan has been mooted.

While this would also require rescheduling of other sporting events, it potentially could avoid the high summer temperatures in Tokyo which have forced organisers to invest in heat countermeasures for the Games.

A taskforce has been established to address the challenges caused by the postponement.

Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshirō Mutō has said securing the venues and the Athletes' Village, which Bach could not guarantee would be available for the rescheduled Games, ticketing, security and accommodation were among the main issues.

The IOC and Tokyo 2020 opted to postpone the Games amid growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

This included concerns over health and athletes' training, with several countries subject to lockdowns.

Numerous qualification events had also been impacted.

More than 470,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide, with the pandemic causing the deaths of more than 21,500 people.