A petition requesting the cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics has been rejected by the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, broadcaster NHK reported on Monday.

The bill to cancel the Games was voted on on the final day of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly's regular meeting.

Residents of the Saitama Prefecture have asked for the events to be canceled and the expenses to be used to help people in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic, NHK said.

As the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections began to wane, more Japanese were seemingly growing more acceptable of the Olympics. According to a survey conducted by the Yomiuri daily newspaper from June 4-6, 50 percent of respondents said the Games will happen on schedule; 26 percent of them believed the Games will happen behind closed doors; another 48 percent said the event will be canceled.

However, the same survey also called virus measures for athletes and participants inadequate. Moreover, some 3,500 "city volunteers" recruited by regional governments to assist with sightseeing and transportation information during the Olympics and Paralympics decided to quit, reported NHK on Sunday. Before that, about 10,000 volunteers had already withdrawn from the event.

Government officials have promised to work on countermeasures against the coronavirus to make sure that the Tokyo Games will be "safe and secure."

"Taking infection control measures for athletes and Games officials so athletes from the world can safely participate and to protect our people's lives and health, I think that is the premise of holding (the Olympics)," Prime Minister Suga told lawmakers in parliament on Monday.

Meanwhile, public support for the Yoshihide Suga administration hit a new low of 37 percent, and a 52-year-old senior official of the Olympic organizing committee, Yasushi Moriya, was found dead on Monday morning, according to Nippon TV. The police are investigating the incident.