Gymnast Shinji Morisue, figure skater Daisuke Takahashi, marathon runner Yuko Arimori and swimmer Kyoko Iwasaki have all been added to the list of Torchbearers.

Marathon runner Arimori, winner of the silver medal at Barcelona 1992 and bronze in Atlanta four years later, is set to carry the Torch in Okayama.

Takahashi, bronze medallist in the men's figure skating event at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, will also run with the Torch in the prefecture.

According to Japanese news agency Kyodo, Arimori described being added to the list of Torchbearers as an "honour".

"The Olympic flame belongs to everyone, so I want to hold onto that feeling as I run," the 53-year-old said.

Morisue claimed gold in the horizontal bar competition at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and is now a media personality in Japan.

Iwasaki, winner of the 200 metres backstroke event at the age of 14 at Barcelona 1992, will carry the Torch in Shizuoka, the prefecture which is due to host track cycling and mountain biking at Tokyo 2020.

Others to have been confirmed as Torchbearers include Japan rugby captain Michael Leitch, sumo grand champion Hakuho and Yomiuri Giants manager Tatsunori Hara.

Marathon champion Mizuki Noguchi is due to be the first Japanese person to carry the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch.

The Athens 2004 Olympic gold medallist will take the flame from a Greek runner after its traditional lighting at Ancient Olympia on March 12.

Judoka Tadahiro Nomura and wrestler Saori Yoshida, who have both won three Olympic gold medals for Japan, will also carry the Torch in Greece.

Members of Japan's FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning squad from 2011 are set to open the domestic leg of the Torch Relay on March 26.