Automated facial recognition systems from Japanese biz NEC will be used on staffers and athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The technology – which is not without its detractors in the UK – was demonstrated at a media event in the city today.

It will require athletes, staff, volunteers and the press to submit their photographs before the games start.

These will then be linked up to IC chips in their passes and combined with scanners on entry to allow them access to more than 40 facilities.

Tsuyoshi Iwashita, head of security for the games, said the aim was to reduce pressure on entry points and shorten queueing time for this group of people.

“Tokyo’s venues don’t always have enough space for the security check or even space to wait for the security check,” Reuters quoted Iwashita as saying.

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