WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the International Olympic Committee for postponing the 2020 Tokyo Games for about a year.

"Congratulations to Prime Minister Abe of Japan, and the IOC, on their very wise decision to present the Olympics in 2021," Trump said on Twitter.

"It will be a great success, and I look forward to being there!" Trump said, signaling his desire to attend a rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.

Abe and the IOC said Tuesday that they agreed to postpone the Tokyo Olympics for about a year to safeguard athletes and the public against the novel coronavirus.

Trump faces a re-election battle this year and his campaign has likewise been upended by the global pandemic, which has prompted governments to order mass shutdowns of movement and economic activity.

So far the International Olympic Committee and Japan have not set a date for the rescheduled Games next year. If Trump does not secure a second term in November's vote, he will leave office in January 2021.

JIJI Press with inputs from AFP