Australian athletes may have to leave the 2021 Olympics and come home early and some could be forced to miss the opening ceremony due to tough coronavirus restrictions

Australian athletes could be forced to leave the 2021 Tokyo Olympics early and others may miss the opening ceremony due to strict Covid-19 restrictions.

A new proposal for the Tokyo Olympic Games would only allow competitors to enter the athletes village five days before their events start.

This means swimmers, rowers and track and field athletes will likely not be allowed to attend the opening ceremony.

International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates said additional measures are also being implemented, such as cleaning high-touch surfaces

Australian athletes are being forced to leave the 2021 Tokyo Olympics early and many will miss the opening ceremony due to strict Covid-19 restrictions. Pictured: The Australian 2020 Olympic Games artistic swimming team

Tokyo's Olympic Village has the capacity for 16,500 people including athletes and support staff, but social distancing measures mean only 7,000 will be allowed inside at any one time.

International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates said additional measures will also be implemented, such as cleaning high-touch surfaces.

The number of athletes in the dining hall will also have to be reduced and rapid testing of residents and staff will also occur.

'It's an extraordinary situation where we have to reduce the numbers of athletes in one spot at the same time to ensure it's a safe environment,' he told The Australian.

Mr Coates said both Japan and the committee were determined to push ahead with the summer games and the Paralympics.

'We are not going to ­reduce the competitors and are adamant that we want all 206 national teams to participate, plus the refugee team,' he said.

Madeline Groves poses with her silver medal after coming second in the 200m butterfly final in Rio.

A woman is pictured wearing a mask last week while posing with mascots for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo

Though all athletes are expected to participate, the committee is assessing the specific numbers the village will have.

One-on-one events will be subject to more rigorous screening to ensure competitors have not come into contact with coronavirus.

Close contacts of all athletes, including referees and coaches, will also endure the stringent screening process.

Athletes will not have to undergo two weeks of quarantine upon arriving in Japan but do have to test negative to a Covid-19 test before entering the country.

Tokyo's Olympic Village has the capacity for 16,500 people including athletes and support staff, but social distancing measures mean only 7,000 will be allowed inside at any one time

Pictured: Australian 2016 Olympics gold medallist Cate Campbell. A new proposal for the Tokyo Olympic Games has revealed competitors may only be allowed to enter the village five days before their events start

They will also have to undergo daily testing while in the village bubble.

'The issue still remains how many people can participate in the opening ceremony, but now there will be natural attrition because not all athletes will be in the village at the time of the opening ceremony or will be competing the next day,' he said. 

The Tokyo Olympic Games was meant to start in July but were postponed after coronavirus swept the globe.

A pandemic taskforce for the games was formed in February and worked closely with the World Health Organisation and senior Japanese Government officials to ensure the games go ahead in a Covid-safe way.

Health guidelines are expected to be released by the end of the year.