A TEST event for the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for later this month that would have involved some overseas athletes will be held with Japanese competitors only due to fears of the spread of the coronavirus.

The two-day event — a Paralympic test for boccia, a precision ball-sport similar to bocce and related to lawn bowls – opens at the new Ariake Arena on February 28.

It is one of 19 remaining test events before the Olympics open on July 24.

The traditional torch relay is due to start on March 26 in Fukushima – a prefecture devastated nine years ago by an earthquake, tsunami and the meltdown of three nuclear reactors.

The test events will be monitored closely for effects the virus is having on Olympic preparations, and the ability of overseas athletes to enter Japan safely.

The deaths of three Japanese people in the country have been attributed to the fast-spreading virus. The outbreak has infected more than 75,000 people globally, with 2,000 deaths in China.

“Obviously, that [(]test event] is going to be modified, but the test event will go ahead,” Tokyo spokesman Masa Takaya said.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and local organisers have reiterated that there are no plans to cancel or postpone the games, something that has happened only in wartime.

A statement by Tokyo 2020 quoted the Japan Para Sports Association view that further time was necessary “to fully analyse the potential impacts” that the virus might have on athletes.

Takaya said the next test events scheduled to have international fields include wheelchair rugby on March 12-15 and gymnastics between April 4 and 6, the latter jointly organised by FIG, the world governing body of gymnastics, the Japan Gymnastics Association and local organisers.

There were no plans to postpone or cancel any test events, Takaya emphasised, although he could not guarantee that non-Japanese athletes would take part in them – the last is scheduled for May 6. 

“We still don’t [know] which athletes are competing,” Takaya said. “When it’’s the most appropriate time, we will release the participants information.”

The widespread cancellation and postponement of Olympic qualifying events has had a huge knock-on effect for athletes waiting to advance, for organisers and federations forced to find new venues, and the associated hotel bookings, flights and ticket reservations.