Japan has asked nations sending their heads of state or governments to this summer's Olympics and Paralympics to limit the number of their accompanying staff to just 11 people, according to sources.

The restrictions are aimed at enabling countries to conduct Olympic diplomacy while minimizing the risk of the further spread of the novel coronavirus in Japan, the sources said Saturday.

Countries are also requested to limit the size of their Cabinet-level delegations, such as those headed by sports ministers, to just five people each, the sources said.