The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will not welcome “overseas” spectators this summer.
According to the Kyodo news agency, the Japanese government has decided this because the population of the Asian country fears that foreign visitors will further increase the number of corona infections.
The Olympics were postponed for a year due to the corona pandemic and will now be held this summer. It has also been decided that the start of the relay with the Olympic flame, on March 25 in Fukushima, will take place without an audience.
Kyodo relies on anonymous officials who say that Japan’s concerns are particularly great because of the mutants of the virus found in various countries. The government and the Japanese organizing committee would ratify the decision later this month after consultation with the International Olympic Committee, among others.
On March 3, the three agencies, together with the International Paralympic Committee and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, agreed to decide this month on whether or not to allow visitors from other countries. In April, it would then be known how many people are allowed into the various stadiums.
At the ceremony surrounding the start of the torchlight procession, there was initially talk of admitting 3000 spectators. This event is now only open to a few invitees.
The Games start on Friday, July 23.
