No foreign spectators in Japan at Tokyo Olympics, organisers suggest
The new chairman of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organizing Committee,
Seiko Hashimoto has suggested that foreign fans will not be allowed at this summer’s Olympics, amid reports in Japanese media that a decision has already been made to exclude them, The Guardian reports.
Japan’s Mainichi newspaper said before its meeting with Bach on Wednesday that officials had already made the decision before a final announcement on the situation of foreign fans expected by the end of the month. The press report cited only unnamed sources “involved in the discussions.”
Citing an anonymous government official, Mainichi noted: “In the current situation it is impossible to attract foreign spectators.”
Seiko Hashimoto later had an online discussion on the subject with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
After the meeting, Hashimoto was asked if Japan would allow thousands of fans from abroad to arrive, given how unpopular the idea is in this Asian country, where up to 80% of the population wants the Olympics to be cancelled or postponed again.
She confirmed that the subject of the spectators was an essential part of the discussions with Bach, the chairman of the international Paralympic committee, Andrew Parsons, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, and Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa.
Thomas Bach suggested it was a difficult choice to be made by the organizers. “We will focus on the essentials. That’s mainly competition. That must be the clear objective. In this respect, we need to set priorities,” Bach said.
During a press conference in late February, Thomas Bach said a decision on whether to allow foreign spectators to enter Japan to witness the Games could be made in April or early May.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be attended by 11,000 Olympic athletes and subsequently 4,400 Paralympics and tens of thousands of coaches, referees, sponsors, journalists and VIPs.
Bach said he was encouraged by the number of national Olympic committees that vaccinate athletes. The COI said it encourages vaccinations. Bach said his hope is “to vaccinate as many participants in Tokyo as possible,” adding: “I can inform you that a considerable number of national Olympic committees have already ensured this pre-Tokyo vaccination.”
Seiko Hashimoto said the “zero-fan option” was not discussed at the meeting.
“We need to look at the general situation before we decide on this subject. We are convinced that we will not be accepted unless citizens feel confident that sufficient measures will be taken to the contrary,” Hashimoto said.
PHOTO: EPA