Yoshiro Mori, the former head of Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee, said Tuesday that holding the games behind closed doors has been an option since the one-year postponement was decided in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I've always said it is fine to have the games behind closed doors. I've been saying it would be better to lay things out with that as a plan," he said at a meeting hosted by Toshiaki Endo, a House of Representatives member serving as vice president of the Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee.
Tokyo remains under a quasi-state of emergency with government guidelines allowing crowds up to half a venue's capacity with a maximum of 5,000 spectators per venue.
The five parties involved in Olympic planning have set a 10,000-spectator cap for events but plan to review that and consider other options. It is still possible that some Olympic events will be held without spectators.
Former Prime Minister Mori was forced to step down from his post as organizing committee president in February after saying meetings with women tend to "drag on" because they talk too much.
Mori claimed the talk of canceling the games can be easily raised but it is not so straightforward "when one thinks of all the sacrifices the athletes have made for the Olympics."
"Because we're in an unprecedented situation, I hope Japan shows her power to the world through fulfilling the games," he said.
Seiko Hashimoto, who assumed her post as the organizers' president from Mori, was also at the meeting and reiterated her desire to stage the games this summer.
"I believe it is my role to fully deliver the Tokyo Olympics and construct a legacy for the next generation," she said.
