(Corrects original start time to 10:00 a.m., not 10.45 a.m., in third paragraph)
TOKYO, July 30 (Reuters) - Heavy rain and thunder across Tokyo forced organisers to delay the start of the BMX racing semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday morning, as they scrambled to remove water from the course.
Although Tokyo avoided a direct hit from tropical storm Nepartak earlier this week, the capital has seen intermittent rains and on Friday the city was lashed with rain.
Organisers delayed the start of the BMX event, originally scheduled for 10:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) by 45 minutes. Workers at the Ariake Urban Park used what looked like leaf blowers and giant brushes to scrape the racing course of water.
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The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Asked about the issue of spectators at a press conference on Tuesday, top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato said Suga has said holding the Games without spectators was a possibility.
On Thursday, the government is likely to extend a state of quasi-emergency in Tokyo and three nearby prefectures beyond an original end-date of July 11, government sources have said.
Kyodo News reported the extension would likely last a month, meaning the curbs will be in place throughout the Olympics, which close with a ceremony on Aug. 8.
Japan has not had the explosive COVID-19 outbreaks seen elsewhere but has seen more than 800,000 cases and more than 14,800 deaths. A slow rollout has meant only a quarter of its population has had at least one COVID-19 vaccination shot. (Reporting by Mari Saito Editing by Lincoln Feast)
Organisers to meet Thursday to discuss spectator plans Virus restrictions, public feelings will affect decision (Adds comment from Tokyo 2020, bullet points)
By Kiyoshi Takenaka
TOKYO, July 7 (Reuters) - Japan s government is floating proposals that would ban fans from all events at this month s Olympics, the Mainichi newspaper reported on Wednesday, as officials scramble to address public concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.
Medical experts have said for weeks that no spectators at the global sporting extravaganza that starts on July 23 would be the least risky option. Organisers have already banned overseas spectators and set a cap on domestic spectators at 50% of capacity, up to 10,000 people, to contain a lingering outbreak of infections.
Japan considers ban on all Olympic spectators, weighs extending curbs reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.