About 10,000 of the 80,000 volunteers for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games have quit the events set to kick off in 50 days, reports said here on Wednesday.
Japan's Kyodo news agency quoted Tokyo 2020 organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto as saying: "There's no doubt that one of the reasons is concern over coronavirus infections."
Muto also promised that the resignation of the volunteers will not affect the operation of the Games.
The 80,000 volunteers were selected from around 200,000 applicants across the world. 64 percent of them are Japanese citizens and foreign nationals account for 10 percent.
Muto said earlier that foreign volunteers will not be allowed to serve the Games as a countermeasure against the COVID-19 pandemic.
He added only those with "special skills" necessary for the smooth running of the Games might retain their positions and enter Japan under special entry rules.
Sources close to the matter said the exception could be made for "around 500 volunteers," who will be selected from a pool of about 2,000 people living overseas, Kyodo said.
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