The International Olympic Committee has presented specific proposals to simplify the 2020 Tokyo Games, which have been postponed by one year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The IOC and the games' organizing committee in Tokyo earlier reached an agreement to simplify the games to cut down on expenses and reduce risks of a virus outbreak.

The Japanese government is pressing the pause button on a variety of sport and cultural events to curb the spread of the new coronavirus. Nearly 900 people have been confirmed infected. More than 700 of those cases emerged in a quarantined cruise ship docked near Tokyo.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday, "Now is the crucial time to contain the spread of the virus at an early date."

The Japanese government is stepping up its protective measures, with a proposed pause on large public gatherings.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has suggested that major sport, cultural and other events should be cancelled, delayed or scaled down for about two weeks.