Japan has decided to proceed with this year's Olympic Games but the event will be held without any foreign spectators.
Reports citing officials with knowledge in the matter said that the government will not be allowing any international guests at the event due to public fears over the spread of the coronavirus.
The Kyodo news agency said that the opening ceremony and the torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will be held on March 25 behind closed doors. Only participants of the games, invitees, and officials will be allowed to attend.
"The organizing committee has decided it is essential to hold the ceremony in the northeastern prefecture of Fukushima behind closed doors, only permitting participants and invitees to take part in the event, to avoid large crowds forming amid the pandemic," the news agency reported.
In response to the report, the International Olympic Committee said that it has not yet reached a final decision on whether or not it would be allowing overseas spectators to attend.
The reports of the possible ban on foreign visitors for the events came after the general public had expressed concerns over the further spreading of the coronavirus if the events were to take place. In a recent government poll, around 77% of Japanese people said that they did not want to have international visitors during the Games.
Banning foreign spectators is expected to have a marginal financial impact on the event. During the last Olympic Games, which was held in Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018, around 80% of the total ticket sales came from local fans.
International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach, previously mentioned that he was determined to go ahead with the event this year. Bach has been repeatedly pressed by officials and the public on the possible impact of having thousands of spectators during the events on the country's pandemic situation.
"Because our priority is to ensure a safe Olympic Games and we will do whatever is needed to do that. Everybody would love to have full-capacity stadiums and the roaring crowds. But if that is not possible we will respect our principles, safety is our first priority," Bach said in a statement.
The committee is expected to hold a board meeting this week to discuss the latest plans for Tokyo. Bach is scheduled to speak at an event to commemorate his re-election as committee president Wednesday.
