The 6th edition of the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China will be postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced on Monday.

The name of the Games “6th Asian Beach Games Sanya 2020” and the logo of the Games will remain unchanged.

The Games was scheduled from November 28 to December 6, 2020, but China’s General Administration of Sport said last month that the only international sports events allowed in the country this year would be trials for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

“The decision taken jointly in collaboration with Chinese Olympic Committee and the Sanya Asian Beach Games Organising Committee will ensure the safety of the athletes and officials as wells the spectators in these unprecedented times of COVID-19 pandemic,” the OCA said in a statement.

The entry criteria and other technical details will be readjusted in collaboration with the local organisers, the continental governing body added.

The Asian Beach Games, also known as ABG, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. Danang, Vietnam hosted the previous edition from September 24 to October 3, 2016.