Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics, postponed from 2020 to 2021, announced on Monday that, due to the pandemic, they will reduce the number of athletes in the opening and closing ceremonies, a measure that could affect thousands of athletes, according to a Japanese newspaper.

"In order to guarantee the protection and safety of the athletes and to simplify operations during the Tokyo Games, we believe it is necessary to reconsider the number of participants in the opening and closing ceremonies," the organizers said in a statement sent to AFP.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering a nearly halving of the number of participants in the opening ceremony on July 23, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.

According to the newspaper, about 6,000 athletes will participate in the event, compared to the more than 11,000 expected to compete in Tokyo.

Organizers have not yet provided figures as the details are still being worked out with the IOC.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, this drastic reduction in participants is due to health restrictions that limit the time spent in the Olympic Village.

These restrictions mean that athletes cannot arrive at the Olympic Village more than five days before the start of their respective competitions. They must leave two days after the end of the competitions.

A sharp increase in infections in Japan and in several regions of the world has raised doubts about the possibility of organizing the major sporting event in Tokyo this year, after it was already postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Public opinion against

With a Japanese population against the Games, the organization and the government assure that the Games can be held safely this summer, even if the pandemic is not yet under control at that time.

"The government has not changed its position on the Olympic and Paralympic Games," said government spokesman Katsunobu Kato.

The IOC, on the other hand, stated in a statement to AFP that it has "full confidence in the Japanese authorities and the measures they are taking" to ensure safe Games.

The Olympic body maintains that there will be "no obligation to be vaccinated to participate," but added that they will "work with national Olympic committees to encourage and assist" athletes to do so.

"This is about contributing to the safety of the Games, but it is also a matter of respect for the Japanese people, who must be protected like the participants," the IOC said.

Last week, influential Japanese minister Taro Kono said that no possibility should be ruled out regarding the holding or cancellation of the Games.

This weekend, a former vice-president of the IOC, Kevan Gosper, suggested that the United Nations be consulted on whether or not to hold the event. (D)