(CNN)The Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch lighting ceremony at the site of ancient Olympia will be staged without spectators on Thursday in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Greece's Olympic Committee said in a statement Monday.
The statement added that Thursday's event will be attended by "only 100 accredited guests from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee," while media accreditation will be "extremely limited."
The dress rehearsal on Wednesday will also be closed to the public.
Following Thursday's ceremony, the Olympic torch will begin a seven-day relay that will culminate with a handover ceremony in Greece on March 19.
The torch will then be flown to Japan.
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