The lighting ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic flame will be held without any spectators, announced the Greek Olympic Committee on Monday as the organizers tightened measures against COVID-19.

The ceremony which serves as the iconic start to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is scheduled to take place in Olympia on March 12. However, this will be the first time since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics that no spectators will be allowed at the prestigious event.

"The Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame will be held without the presence of spectators and will be attended by only 100 accredited guests from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee," the Greek Olympic Committee said in a statement.

Apart from the official ceremony, the dress rehearsal on March 11 will also be closed to public and journalists. The organizers also tightened the media accreditation allocation for the coverage of the lighting ceremony. 

The lighting ceremony will be followed by the Greek leg of the Olympic Torch Relay which will take place as scheduled. 

There will be an official handover ceremony in Greece on March 19, in regards to which further protection measures will be announced.

It was reported that earlier the Mayor of Olympia has written to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, proposing the postponement of the ceremony until May. However, the Greek Olympic Committee announced on March 3, following a big meeting, that the lighting ceremony will take place as scheduled.