The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Flame lighting ceremony will be held without spectators as a countermeasure to the outbreak of coronavirus.

The ceremony, due to take place in Olympia in Greece on Thursday (March 12), will now only take place in front of 100 accredited guests.

"Today, the Hellenic Olympic Committee announced that the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame will take place without spectators present," a Tokyo 2020 statement said.

"One hundred accredited guests from the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will participate.

"Tokyo 2020 is grateful for the efforts of all parties involved to ensure that the Ceremony will take place while taking into consideration the latest countermeasures by the Hellenic Government against COVID-19.

"As part of Tokyo 2020’s commitment to delivering a safe and secure Torch Relay, the Organising Committee will reduce the size of its traveling delegation as much as possible, and will take every consideration for protecting public health as Tokyo 2020 participates in the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame."