Tadamasa Fukiura believes a decision must be made in the next 10 days ©Getty Images

Tadamasa Fukiura, an advisor for the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, says he believes a decision must be made by the end of the month over whether the Games will take place this summer.

Fukiura, a flag enthusiast who supervised displays at the last Tokyo Games in 1964, has felt the threat of potential cancellation before when heavy rain ravaged the city over 50 years ago.

However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said that the future of the Games this year must be confirmed within the next couple of weeks.

In 1964, Tadamasa Fukiura selected the shade of red for the Japanese Olympic flag which would later become the official colour of the nation's flag
In 1964, Tadamasa Fukiura selected the shade of red for the Japanese Olympic flag which would later become the official colour of the nation's flag

Speaking to Reuters, Fukiura said, “I think by the end of March, we have to decide whether to stop or continue preparations for the Olympics."

As things stand, the flag manufacturers are still on time to reach their May deadline despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

The Japanese Government and Tokyo 2020 organisers have also insisted the Games will currently go ahead as scheduled.

There have been more than 287,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus to date with more than 11,800 people dying as a result.