The 1940 Summer Olympics were originally scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan. However, due to the outbreak of World War II, the games were canceled, marking the first time the Olympics were not held since their modern inception in 1896. The decision to cancel the event was made in 1938, as global tensions rose and many countries faced political and military challenges. The next Summer Olympics would not occur until 1948 in London, highlighting the significant impact of the war on international sporting events.