Two-thirds of people in Japan do not believe the country can host a safe and secure Olympics amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey published by the Asahi newspaper just four days before the opening ceremony in Tokyo.
In the poll, 68% of respondents expressed doubt about the ability of Olympic organizers to control coronavirus infections, with 55% saying they were opposed to the Games going ahead.
Three-quarters of the 1,444 people in the telephone survey said they agreed with a decision to ban spectators from events.
As COVID-19 infections rise in Tokyo, forcing the government into a fourth state of emergency, public concern has grown about hosting an event that is bringing tens of thousands of overseas athletes, officials and journalists into Japan's capital.
Games officials on Sunday reported the first COVID-19 case among competitors in the athletes' village in Tokyo, bringing the total number of cases connected to the Olympics to at least 10.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has said he hopes the Japanese public will warm to the Games once competition begins and as Japanese athletes begin winning medals.
Whether it is sumo, or domestic basketball or baseball matches, Japanese fans have been filling the arenas in recent days leaving Olympic athletes wondering why they will be competing in front of empty stands at the Tokyo Games.
Japanese organizers have decided to ban spectators from venues of the Olympics, which start this week, in a bid to stem an increase of COVID-19 infections, with the capital in a state of emergency until Aug. 22.
Foreign visitors were banned earlier from attending the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games.
"A state of emergency has been declared for Tokyo and on July 9 we saw the decision was to ban spectators," Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi told an online media roundtable on Monday. "Obviously, it is a decision that we respect."
"There was however one sentence which was pleasing that should the situation change the situation could be reviewed," Dubi said, referring to the organizers' statement on the decision.
"That other sporting events now have fans is a decision that belongs to local authorities. We must respect that," Dubi said.
On Friday, Central League's 5-4 win over the Pacific League in Game 1 of Japan's All-Star baseball series was played in front of 8,992 masked fans at MetLife Dome outside Tokyo while.
At the same time, the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament was staged with crowds in the stands of the Dolphin's Arena.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has had to slash the numbers of officials attending the opening ceremony on Friday to comply with health safety rules.
Some athletes, among them Japan's football team men's captain, Maya Yoshida, question the decision to bar spectators.
"A lot of people's tax money is going to hold these Olympics," Yoshida recently. "Despite that, people can't go and watch. So you wonder about who the Olympics is for, and what it is for."
Dubi said such questions should be put to the organizers and local authorities.
"We have received questions from a number of athletes who are observing the same. As far as the IOC is concerned we respect this decision and abide by this rule but you could address this question to the organizing committee or the local authorities," he said when asked by Reuters.
Dubi said there was still the possibility that should the number of coronavirus cases drop then organizers could review the ban.