This year’s Tokyo Olympics are reportedly going to be held without spectators from overseas over worries international arrivals could spark a surge in cases in Japan.
According to the Japanese news agency Kyodo, the Japanese government will not be welcoming fans from overseas to watch the games amid fears of coronavirus variants from other countries.
It has been reported only participants and invited guests will be permitted to attend the Olympic Games this year.
Quoting officials, Kyodo said: “The organising 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.”
The games were originally scheduled to take place last summer but were postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The games are now set to be held from July 23rd to August 8th, with the Paralympics taking place from August 25th to September 5th.
News of the alleged ban on overseas spectators at the Tokyo Olympics comes as a recent poll by a Yomiuri newspaper showed most Japanese people are not in favour of welcoming international spectators over fears it could worsen the pandemic there.
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