The marathon and a number of other outdoor events of the 2020 Tokyo Games will be held in the early morning to avoid scorching heat, according to a plan approved Wednesday by the International Olympic Committee.

Tokyo's typically hot and humid summer has been a major concern for the games — scheduled from July 24 to Aug. 9, when temperatures frequently rise above 30 C — due to the risk athletes and spectators could suffer dehydration and heatstroke.

The plan's approval comes as the country deals with a heat wave that has seen temperatures top 40 C, claiming eight lives on Wednesday alone.