The Australian Olympic Committee advisory that they "should prepare for a Tokyo Olympic Games in the northern summer of 2021" as a result of the coronavirus pandemic was perceived as the most sensible course of action by Tasmanians at home, on the mainland and around the world.

Cyclist Richie Porte has made the decision to bunker down in his European base in Monaco with his pregnant wife and baby son while triathlete Jake Birtwhistle opted to fly home and self-isolate at his family's Greens Beach shack.

Separated by distance, they were united by opinion.

ELSEWHERE IN SPORT:

"It had to happen and is not really a surprise to many people," Birtwhistle said.

"Things like this come secondary to people's wellbeing.

"It's a huge part of my life but at the same time such a small thing compared to everything that is going on so is easy to understand."

Porte added: "At the end of the day it's just sport. It's hardly a debate when people are losing their lives.

"Everybody is seeing this virus getting worse and worse. In Europe, most people know someone who is not well so the impact is sinking in."

Teenage swimming sensation Ariarne Titmus, a triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist, world champion and among Australia's best hopes in Tokyo, also accepted the decision.

"Hopefully, when the Olympics come around next year, it will be a major celebration of world sport," she said.

In kayaker Daniel Watkins and track cyclists Amy Cure and Georgia Baker, Tasmania had three athletes already confirmed on the Australia Olympic team with many more vying for selection.

In celebrating their call-up last week, Rio Olympic roommates Cure and Baker knew a question mark was hanging over the Games.

"We just play on until we find out otherwise," Baker said.

Cure added: "Obviously it's a bit difficult training for the unknown ... like the whole world, we're taking it day by day. With where the world is right now, it's hard to get super excited."

Australia's Chef de Mission for Tokyo is Legana father-of-three Ian Chesterman who said there is only one conceivable course of action.

"It's clear the Games can't be held in July," he said.

"Our athletes have been magnificent in their positive attitude to training and preparing, but the stress and uncertainty has been extremely challenging for them.

"They have also shouldered the burden of concern for their peers around the world. That has been a consistent message to me.

"While there will still be much to work out as a result of this change, the timing will allow athletes from around the world to properly prepare with the hope the coronavirus crisis will be under control.

"We are aware that for many such a postponement will present a range of new issues. But when the world does come together at the Tokyo Olympic Games they can be a true celebration of sport and humanity."

Having received feedback from more than 25 sports, Chesterman said there were numerous issues that flow from any postponement, from qualification through to logistics in Tokyo, but felt these could be worked through.

The AOC held an executive board meeting via teleconference on Monday morning and unanimously agreed that an Australian team could not be assembled in the changing circumstances at home and abroad.

Chief executive Matt Carroll said athletes wanted to do the right thing for themselves, their families and the world community, and required certainty.

"We have athletes based overseas, training at central locations around Australia as teams and managing their own programs," he said. "With travel and other restrictions this becomes an untenable situation.

"The IOC had adopted the key principles of putting athlete health first and ensuring it acted in their best interests and the interests of sport. This decision reflects those principles."

The AOC decision followed the International Olympic Committee announcing a potential postponement in the wake of growing worldwide pressure.

Even World Athletics president Sebastian Coe had told his IOC counterpart Thomas Bach that Tokyo 2020 taking place as planned in July and August was "neither feasible nor desirable".

Birtwhistle, who was training in Spain and the US when various triathlon events were cancelled, welcomed the clarity.

"We have support from the AOC that they are pushing for 2021 and other countries are on the same page so I assume that's going to happen but at least we now know that we don't have to be ready in a few months' time," he said.

"This is from the AOC but the IOC need to confirm it. I know the US and Canada have announced that they won't be sending teams if it goes ahead on the proposed dates and Australia is putting pressure on the IOC because there are more important things going on in the world.

"The Olympics are not likely to happen this year now and it's hard to keep training when you have nothing to train for.

"Right now, 2021 is the best case scenario. It's a little bit frustrating and I wish we weren't in this situation. I was planning to have an easy year next year but that won't be the case now."