Tokyo (AFP)

The Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee will decide before the end of March on the presence of foreign spectators, and before the end of April on the number of people who will be able to attend each competition, announced its new president, Seiko Hashimoto, on Wednesday.

The safety of the Japanese "is the priority," Hashimoto told reporters, after speaking with officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Japanese government and metropolitan authorities in Tokyo.

She said a decision would be made at the end of the month, ideally before the start of the Olympic torch relay on March 25, although Japanese media have claimed that the government has already opted for a non-Olympic Games. foreign spectators.

"We really need to think long and hard about the mutant strains of the virus," said the former top athlete and former minister responsible for the Olympics.

"Anxiety remains among the citizens", who have become overwhelmingly hostile to hosting the Olympic Games (July 23-August 8), "and as long as there is anxiety, we will have to work to guarantee their safety" , she insisted.

IOC boss Thomas Bach announced last week a probable decision in late April-early May on foreign audiences, but Hashimoto said Wednesday that supporters, hotels and tour operators should be informed sooner.

The precise measurement of the stands in each competition venue will be determined by the end of April based on "scientific information", and in accordance with national guidelines, she added.

Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency, with a capacity limited to 5,000 people for sporting events.

This measure expires on March 7 but should be extended by two weeks, according to several Japanese media.

The Tokyo Olympics, postponed last year because of the pandemic, are scheduled from July 23 to August 8, despite the persistence of the health crisis in the world.

According to a new survey of some 2,300 Japanese published on Wednesday by the Japanese daily Yomiuri, 58% of those questioned said they did not want the Olympics, fearing that they would lead to an upsurge in infections.

© 2021 AFP