OLYMPIC sponsor Toyota has stopped its media advertising of the games over concerns about COVID-19 and reports that two-thirds of the Japanese population doubt the event can be kept safe from the virus.

The car-maker, a long-time supporter of the Games, also said its executives – including chief executive Akio Toyoda – would not attend the opening ceremony on July 23.

Fearing a backlash from the Japanese community which keeps Toyota securely in number one place in vehicle and home sales, Toyota said in a statement that its advertising in Japan was “on hold”.

“It is true that Toyota will not be attending the opening ceremony, and the decision was made considering various factors including no spectators,” a spokesperson said in an interview with Reuters.

“We will not be airing any commercials related to the Games in Japan.”

However, Toyota is running its Olympic ads in other markets, including Australia and the US.

A Toyota Australia statement said: “Toyota Australia’s marketing campaign for the Olympic and Paralympic Games has begun nationally and will continue as planned with our media partners.”

“As a worldwide mobility partner, Toyota continues to support the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the athletes who have strived so hard to compete by providing Games participants with safe, efficient, and convenient mobility options based on Toyota’s vision of ‘Mobility for All’.

“We believe their passion and dedication will inspire and give hope to people around the world.”

Toyota Motor North America said its advertising campaign would continue during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

While its domestic ads have shut down, Toyota is still providing about 3700 mobility products and vehicles – 90 per cent being electric to reduce emissions – for the Tokyo Games.

It is also continuing to promote the Olympians it sponsors.

The retraction of support in Japan followed a poll by Japan’s Asahi newspaper this week that found that 68 per cent of respondents doubted that the Olympic organisers could control coronavirus infections, with 55 per cent saying they were opposed to the Games going ahead.

Three-quarters of the 1444 people in the telephone survey said they agreed with a decision to ban spectators from events.

Citizens fear that as COVID-19 cases increase in Tokyo, hosting an event with tens of thousands of overseas athletes, officials and journalists could accelerate infection rates in Japan’s capital and introduce variants that are more infectious or deadly.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has said he hopes the Japanese public will warm to the Games once competition begins and as Japanese athletes begin winning medals.

The Tokyo Olympics run from July 23 through to August 8.

By Neil Dowling