Japan to decide soon on local audiences at Tokyo Olympics

The final call on attendance at the Games will be made taking into account COVID infection conditions and the prevalence of variants.

Health experts agreed with the administration’s direction that would permit up to 10,000 spectators or 50% of a venue's capacity, whichever is smaller, at events.

Overseas audiences are already banned from the Olympics beginning on July 23 as part of measures planned to deliver what the Japanese government and Olympic officials promise will be a “safe and secure” Games.

The IOC has tried to quell such concerns by saying that most athletes and media coming to Tokyo will be vaccinated and that so-called playbooks governing hygiene, movements and testing of participants will further mitigate infection risks.

The Olympics have already been postponed by a year amid concerns over how organisers can keep volunteers, athletes, officials and the Japanese public safe when they begin after the fourth wave of infections.

Tokyo, Osaka and eight other prefectures remain under a state of emergency that is set to end on June 20.

Japan's sluggish vaccination push is starting to gain steam of late, and recent polls have pointed to acceptance that the Games will go forward.

The games are scheduled to begin on July 23, but there are lingering public concerns about the possibility of a steep rise in coronavirus infections triggered by an influx of people into Tokyo and the spread of more contagious COVID-19 variants.

The government will take precautions to hold the Olympics "in a safe and secure manner," as called for in the official communique of the G-7 leaders.