Australian Associated Press (AAP) will not send journalists to cover the Olympic Games for the first time in more than 70 years.
The news organisation will instead rely on a journalist and photographer from the UK's Press Association Media to cover the Games which start on July 23.
AAP says its decision was made based on the health and wellbeing of AAP staff as Tokyo continues to struggle with the spread of coronavirus.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has presented insurmountable hurdles for our people travelling from Australia," editor Andrew Drummond told the media.
"AAP's close relationship with international partner agencies, plus articles from a dedicated team of the newswire's specialist Australian-based reporters, will ensure a substantial and quality source of Olympics content.”
Olympic organisers have been under increased pressure over the event, with a survey by local newspaper Asahi Shimbun finding that 83% of voters want the Games to be postponed or scrapped as COVID cases spread.
Asahi Shimbun, a Tokyo Olympics sponsor, has also publicly called for the games to be cancelled.
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