It is widely expected that the decision not to allow spectators from outside Japan will be confirmed at a meeting in Tokyo tomorrow.

Tokyo 2020 is due to meet online with officials from Japan's and Tokyo's Governments, as well as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

It has been widely reported that the Japanese Government has already decided that welcoming spectators from abroad is not possible, given public concern over the spread of the coronavirus and the emergence of more contagious variants in many countries.

Tomorrow’s meeting is due to be attended by IOC President Thomas Bach, IPC President Andrew Parsons, Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Japan's Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa.

"When we think of the need to provide arrangements to accept [overseas spectators] and also of people who have been preparing public transport and places to stay, a fast decision is expected from us," Hashimoto said during a press conference in the Japanese capital today.

"Immigration [policy] is up to the Government, but in the end, it will be set based on discussion between the five parties and their approval."

But ATRs, appointed by National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to sell tickets in their countries, from all around the world have written to Hashimoto and Bach to protest.

They have pleaded with them not to ban international spectators from the Olympics, due to take place between July 23 and August 8, with the Paralympics scheduled to follow between August 24 and September 5.

New Jersey-based Jet Set Sports (JSS), the ATR for eight countries, including Australia and the United States, is among the companies that have written to Hashimoto.

"That decision is unnecessary given the progress, and expected further improvements in the next several months, in the ability to safely host sporting events and other performances that are attended by the public despite the worldwide pandemic," JSS co-chief executives Sead and Alan Dizdarevic wrote to Hashimoto and John Coates, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for Tokyo 2020.

"Your reported decision will unnecessarily deprive the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics of spectators from around the world who wish to safely support their national teams in person.

"Your reported decision will unnecessarily expose [Tokyo 2020], the IOC, National Olympic Committees and Authorised Ticket Resellers such as JSS to potential claims and liability to more than a million overseas ticketholders, as well as creating potential disputes between Olympic partners and sponsors.

"We urge you to reconsider this decision and take the available and accepted steps necessary to allow overseas spectators to attend the 2021 (sic) Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games."

About 4.5 million tickets have been sold to Japanese residents, with another estimated one million sold abroad.

Before the postponement a year ago, Tokyo 2020 was planning to sell 7.8 million tickets.

Toshirō Mutō, chief executive of Tokyo 2020, has promised that ticket holders from abroad would receive refunds.

The biggest concern for many ATRs, though, is that most sell Olympic tickets as part of packages, including travel and hotel accommodation.

Currently, Tokyo 2020 is claiming that only 30 per cent of total hotel room nights can be released free of charge.

Some hotels are already indicating they have no intention of returning money paid in advance for Tokyo 2020 accommodation, while others are offering to make only partial refunds.

That could potentially expose some ATRs to millions of dollars in compensation claims that they fear could bankrupt them.

One ATR warned that a ban on international spectators will "create more litigation within Japan and elsewhere in the next 12 months than Japan has probably experienced in the last 12 years".

"Though tickets issues are mainly being discussed, cancellation of packages is our biggest challenge in ensuring fair and equitable refunds, while being compensated for the work and damages we have occurred," Yoav Bruck, the President of ISSTA Sport, the ATR for Israel and Spain, wrote to Bach.

Greek IOC member Spyros Capralos last week urged Tokyo 2020 to provide clear policies on refunding tickets should overseas spectators be prevented from attending the Olympics.

Capralos told the 137th IOC Session, held online, that organisers needed to help people who have already purchased tickets and accommodation for the Games, stressing that a clear policy was required for refunds.

"We must find ways to deal with people who have already booked and paid for airplane tickets, Games tickets and accommodation, who may now not be able to travel to Tokyo," Capralos said.

"Not to forget, many of these people are parents and relatives of the athletes, who have passion and commitment to witness the Olympic Games."

But Bruck, a former swimmer, who represented Israel at three Olympic Games, claimed Tokyo 2020 is refusing to hold talks with the ATRs to find a solution.

"While [Tokyo 2020] is playing a 'business as usual' game, sending ATR’s and NOC’s invoices for payment and instructing us on actions to be done…they are denying our repeated requests to talk," he wrote to Bach.

"We have been hit twice, first by the postponement and the enormous work related, and now by the cancellations, while the messages that have been coming out so far have done little to help.

"The Authorised Ticket Resellers are the IOC’s ‘frontline' messengers for the past year in defending the Tokyo 2020 Games and the Olympic Movement under difficult working and financial conditions.

"Yet our voices are not being heard, our experience is not being utilized, and our concerns are ignored, putting all involved parties in serious risks."

Among those who could be affected by a ban on international spectators are representatives from the Olympic sponsors, although Coates has previously indicated that there may be an exception for some groups.  

"We are looking at the other implications of accommodation, looking at implications for National Olympic Committees who have sponsors who might have bought tickets," Coates said.

"The same with International Federations."

Tokyo 2020 projected income of $800 million (£575 million/€670 million) from ticket sales, the third-largest source of revenue.

Any shortfall will have to be made up by the Japanese Government.

But that is still unlikely to persuade the Government to change its mind about allowing international spectators to attend the Games, especially as there remains widespread scepticism in Japan about holding the Olympics and exposing the country to the further risk of COVID-19.

There have so far been 452,000 cases in Japan, with 8,750 deaths.

The ATRs, however, are urging the Government to delay any decision on whether to admit international spectators.

"The long process involved in refunding ticket sales will likely expose JSS and other Authorised Ticket Resellers to potential claims, substantial legal fees and other costs associated with defending against such claims as the refund process proceeds," JSS co-chief executives Sead and Alan Dizdarevic wrote.

"All of these consequences can be avoided by following the scientific protocols that have been developed, including the widespread availability and use of vaccines, and allowing overseas spectators to attend the Games."