After a long period of hesitation - and about a month before the opening ceremony on July 23 - organizers announced on Monday that spectators during the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will be limited to 10,000 fans at each venue.
The long-awaited announcement came after months of recurrence between organizers, officials, experts and the public on the extent and scope of the ever-postponed world sports event.
After the fifth meeting on Monday between representatives of the central government, the Tokyo Government, the Tokyo Organizing Committee, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, Tokyo Sports Minister Tamayo Marukawa announced that 10,000 people would be present at the games. % of local power - any number less - and up to 20 000 will be allowed to attend the opening ceremony.
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"As stated last week following the announcement by the central government, the restrictions on the Tokyo Games will be in line with any coronavirus measures in place," Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Tokyo Planning Committee, said during a news conference on Monday. "The final part of the games has been taken, and the process is complete."
Viewers will be asked to wear masks, stop congratulations and go straight to or from traffic jams, said Hashimoto, adding that live viewing sites, which aim to allow residents to watch competitive events from outside the venues, will be canceled.
If an emergency situation is announced in the capital or at any of the competition venues located after July 12, organizers have said spectator limits will be adjusted according to any coronavirus measures in place.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Monday a few hours before the announcement that the games could be held outside the audience if a state of emergency was declared in the capital or wherever a competitive venue was found.
"If an emergency is declared, that is possible," Suga said. "We will not hesitate to close the audience to ensure safety and security."
Initially, the organizers planned to decide how many viewers would be allowed in the spring. But with the spread of the disease in Tokyo and other parts of the country, they have delayed the decision until this month. Overseas fans were banned in March.
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Now, promoters will need to decide - within a month - who owns the tickets and who will be allowed to enter and will be given a refund.
But there are strong concerns that allowing home fans will create another virus.
On Friday, Shigeru Omi, chairman of the federal executive committee of the coronavirus, and 25 other infectious disease specialists published a report stating that holding the games without fans was the safest way.
"Conducting events outside the audience involves minimal risk, so that would be fine," the report said.
In a press release released on Friday, the Mainichi Shimbun also said that the games should be held outside the audience, adding that the organizers should not be discouraged despite the state of emergency in all nine districts.
"The state of coronavirus infection in Japan remains critical, as Tokyo's daily infection statistics reach levels when the government raises its declaration in March near the end of the third wave of infections," said the Mainichi editorial board.
The last day of emergency in the capital was Sunday, after which it was replaced by the relief measures available until July 11.
However, questions remain as to whether local authorities could block or restrict the refund in two weeks between July 11 and the opening ceremony on July 23.
Nevertheless, preparations for the Tokyo Games are under way. On Sunday, the media was given an unusual visit to the athletic district, where athletes will sleep, eat and rest during the Olympics and Paralympics.
The long-awaited announcement came after months of recurrence between organizers, officials, experts and the public on the extent and scope of the ever-postponed world sports event.
After the fifth meeting on Monday between representatives of the central government, the Tokyo Government, the Tokyo Organizing Committee, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, Tokyo Sports Minister Tamayo Marukawa announced that 10,000 people would be present at the games. % of local power - any number less - and up to 20 000 will be allowed to attend the opening ceremony.
"As stated last week following the announcement by the central government, the restrictions on the Tokyo Games will be in line with any coronavirus measures in place," Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Tokyo Planning Committee, said during a news conference on Monday. "The final part of the games has been taken, and the process is complete."
Viewers will be asked to wear masks, stop congratulations and go straight to or from traffic jams, said Hashimoto, adding that live viewing sites, which aim to allow residents to watch competitive events from outside the venues, will be canceled.
If an emergency situation is announced in the capital or at any of the competition venues located after July 12, organizers have said spectator limits will be adjusted according to any coronavirus measures in place.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Monday a few hours before the announcement that the games could be held outside the audience if a state of emergency was declared in the capital or wherever a competitive venue was found.
"If an emergency is declared, that is possible," Suga said. "We will not hesitate to close the audience to ensure safety and security."
Initially, the organizers planned to decide how many viewers would be allowed in the spring. But with the spread of the disease in Tokyo and other parts of the country, they have delayed the decision until this month. Overseas fans were banned in March.
Now, promoters will need to decide - within a month - who owns the tickets and who will be allowed to enter and will be given a refund.
But there are strong concerns that allowing home fans will create another virus.
On Friday, Shigeru Omi, chairman of the federal executive committee of the coronavirus, and 25 other infectious disease specialists published a report stating that holding the games without fans was the safest way.
"Conducting events outside the audience involves minimal risk, so that would be fine," the report said.
In a press release released on Friday, the Mainichi Shimbun also said that the games should be held outside the audience, adding that the organizers should not be discouraged despite the state of emergency in all nine districts.
"The state of coronavirus infection in Japan remains critical, as Tokyo's daily infection statistics reach levels when the government raises its declaration in March near the end of the third wave of infections," said the Mainichi editorial board.
The last day of emergency in the capital was Sunday, after which it was replaced by the relief measures available until July 11.
However, questions remain as to whether local authorities could block or restrict the refund in two weeks between July 11 and the opening ceremony on July 23.
Nevertheless, preparations for the Tokyo Games are under way. On Sunday, the media was given an unusual visit to the athletic district, where athletes will sleep, eat and rest during the Olympics and Paralympics.
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