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Amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus, the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee announced the unusual measure of holding one of its test events this week as scheduled - but without athletes, the local sources reported.

Citing a recommendation from its coronavirus countermeasures task force, the organizing committee said in a media release that Tokyo 2020 staff members will take the place of athletes in its test event for sport climbing on Friday and Saturday, a setup that it said will "test operational preparedness."

Meanwhile, the 2020 Japan Para Wheelchair Rugby Championships — which were set to serve as a test event ahead of the Paralympic Games — have been canceled because of the virus. The event had been scheduled to begin March 12. Organizers said they will instead "carry out the wheelchair rugby test event in some form in April."

As all host cities do, Tokyo 2020 has been holding test events for this summer's Olympics since September 2018. The events serve as dress rehearsals for specific events, usually featuring athletes from Japan and elsewhere who are expected to compete in the Games.