The Japanese government has decided to exclude overseas spectators from attending this year’s Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic games. This, officials say, forms part of the government’s efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last summer, the pandemic forced the events to be postponed for a year. Organizers had said they are hopeful international visitors would be able to attend this year.
However, the Japanese government has said welcoming fans from abroad would not be possible given public concern about the coronavirus. And the spread of variants from other countries. Officials also said the opening ceremony of the torch relay will also be held without spectators.
“The organizing committee has decided it is essential to hold the ceremony in the northeastern prefecture of Fukushima behind closed doors, only permitting participants and invitees to take part in the event, to avoid large crowds forming amid the pandemic.”
Last week, Tokyo 2020 President, Seiko Hashimoto told reporters that she wanted a decision on whether to let in overseas spectators before the start of the torch relay on 25 March.
“We would really like people from around the world to come to a full stadium. But unless we are prepared to accept them and the medical situation in Japan is perfect. It will cause a great deal of trouble also to visitors from overseas.”
President, Seiko Hashimoto
The Olympics are being held from 23rd July to 8th August and the Paralympics from 25th August to 5th September.
Ticket Cost olympic
According to the organizing committee, the one-year postponement of the games caused the cost to balloon to at least 1.64 trillion yen ($15 billion). The committee was however expecting to make 90 billion yen from ticket sales before today’s announcement.
Organizers are still optimistic noting that while about 1 million overseas spectators were estimated to enter Japan, some 4.45 million tickets have already been sold in the country.
Officials have also pointed out that at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, local fans accounted for 80% of all ticket sales with international visitors buying 20%.
Organizers have not publicly disclosed the total number of tickets to be sold. However some officials have said it was likely to be over 9 million before the games were rescheduled last year.
Coronavirus infection numbers have been relatively low in Japan as compared with the United States and many European countries. Notwithstanding, the country has been hit by the third wave of Covid-19 and Tokyo remains under a state of emergency.
A recent poll indicated that most Japanese people do not want international visitors to attend the games. This is amid fears a large influx could spark a resurgence of infections.
The organizing committee is set to decide on the number of spectators to be allowed into venues based on Japanese restrictions in April. This meeting will the International Paralympic Committee and the Tokyo metropolitan government
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