Experts are predicting that Tokyo 2020 may take place without spectators due to the coronavirus outbreak ©Getty Images

Experts are predicting that this year's Olympic Games in Tokyo may take place without spectators due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Concerns over the spread of COVID-19, which has so far killed 5,080 people and infected more than 138,000 worldwide, have fuelled rumours Tokyo 2020 could be postponed or cancelled.

But officials in Japan and from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have repeatedly insisted the Olympic Games, due to open on July 24, will go ahead as scheduled.

Even if this proves to be the case, some foresee that the event could be held behind closed doors.

"There is no canceling an investment of 3 trillion JPY¥ (£22 billion/$28 billion/€25 billion)," Munehiko Harada, a professor at Waseda University's Faculty of Sport Sciences, was reported as saying by Kyodo News.

"What can be considered is holding the Games without spectators."

Last month, IOC doyen Richard Pound warned that a decision on whether Tokyo 2020 goes ahead would have to be made by the end of May, should one be required.

But Hideomi Nakahara, a visiting professor at Yamano College of Aesthetics specialising in infectious diseases, claims the outbreak is unlikely to have been contained by that time.

IOC doyen Richard Pound warned last month that a decision on whether Tokyo 2020 goes ahead would have to be made by the end of May ©Getty Images
IOC doyen Richard Pound warned last month that a decision on whether Tokyo 2020 goes ahead would have to be made by the end of May ©Getty Images

"Even if things are resolved by then in Japan, it won't be enough," he was reported as saying by Kyodo News.

"The crisis has to be contained by May or June worldwide, otherwise it will difficult to hold the Games [as planned]."

Nakahara is also of the opinion that some athletes may abstain from Tokyo 2020, owing to the varying degree of infection from region to region.

"If participation is allowed from countries where the virus is prevalent, there will be withdrawals from competition," he added.

Japan has reported 700 cases and 10 deaths from the virus, but fears over its spread have prompted countries to impose travel restrictions and ban events with a certain number of participants.

The pandemic has caused major disruption to the sporting calendar, with numerous events and leagues postponed, suspended or cancelled.

Olympic qualifiers in several sports are among those to have been affected, raising concern for athletes about how they book their place at Tokyo 2020.

A number of Tokyo 2020 test events have also either been cancelled or postponed, while others have gone ahead with volunteers used instead of athletes.