TOKYO: Medical and education workers have taken to the streets of the Japanese capital to protest the hosting of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games due to place from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5, under the state of emergency due to the global pandemic.

The protesters, joined by activists, gathered near the Tokyo metropolitan government building in Shinjuku district on Tuesday and called for the games to be canceled. They also held slogans denouncing the school programs set by the government to allow children to attend the competitions as part of a Paralympic Games education and awareness drive.

Women and mothers took turns speaking through loudspeakers to condemn the plan, claiming it endangered their children during the fourth wave of infections sweeping Japan, now with a daily infection rate surpassing the 20,000 and with more young people becoming sick.

The Japan Olympic Committee had decided to ban entry of all spectators, including school children participating in awareness programs, to the games, but despite this, the Japanese government continued to set up plans for the students to attend the Paralympics, demonstrators said.