Spectators from abroad should be banned from the Tokyo Olympics

TOKYO (AP) – Finally, it’s officially after countless news reports and rumors: spectators from abroad are banned from the postponed Olympic Games in Tokyo when they open in four months.

The decision was announced on Saturday after an online meeting of the International Olympic Committee, the Japanese government, the Tokyo government, the International Paralympic Committee and local organizers.

Officials said the risk was too great to pick up ticket holders from overseas during a pandemic. The Japanese public also opposed supporters from abroad. Several surveys have shown that up to 80% are opposed to holding the Olympics, and a similar percentage were attended by opponents from overseas.

Japan attributed COVID-19 approximately 8,800 deaths and had better control of the virus than most countries.

‘To give clarity to the cardholders living overseas and to enable them to adjust their travel plans at this stage, the parties on the Japanese side have come to the conclusion that they would not be able to enter Japan during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, ”the organizing committee in Tokyo said in a statement.

According to organizers, 600,000 tickets were sold to fans from outside Japan. They have promised refunds, but this will be determined by so-called authorized ticket sellers who handle sales outside of Japan. These merchants charge fees of up to 20% above the ticket price. It is not clear whether the fees will be refunded.

Toshiro Muto, chief executive of the organizing committee, said organizers were not responsible for money lost on flights or hotel bookings. He said it did not involve a “contract arrangement with Tokyo”.

The chairman of the organizing committee, Seiko Hashimoto, who appeared as an athlete in seven Olympic Games – she won bronze in speed skating in 1992 – said there was pressure to wait longer to make a decision. But she said fans can plan now. She also regrets the move.

“The fact that spectators are not able to attend the matches from abroad is very disappointing, and it is regrettable,” she said. “It was an inevitable decision.”

Thomas Bach, president of the IOC, calls it a ‘difficult decision’.

“We have to make decisions that possibly sacrifice from everyone,” he said.

Muto seems to be ruling out fans entering who may have received tickets from sponsors.

“If they are part of the games, and if they are somewhat involved in the operation, there is still a possibility that they can enter Japan,” Muto said. “But only as spectators to watch games – no, they are not allowed to enter.”

The financial burden of lost ticket sales falls on Japan. The local organizing committee’s budget called for $ 800 million in revenue from ticket sales, the third largest source of revenue in the privately funded budget. Any budget deficit must be made up by the Japanese government agencies.

“Ticket revenue will decline,” Muto said. “It’s very clear at this point.”

Muto also hinted at more cuts for people on the periphery of the Olympics. He also said volunteers from overseas “would be treated the same way”, but said the details would be available later.

‘But as for other people related to the games or whether we should maintain the same number, we might have to reduce the number. This is the consensus. That is the premise, ”he said.

Overall, Japan officially spends $ 15.4 billion to host the Olympics. Several government audits say the actual cost could be twice as much. A total of $ 6.7 billion is public money, and according to a study by the University of Oxford, it is the most expensive Olympic Games yet to be seen.

About 4.45 million tickets were sold to residents of Japan. Organizers are expected to announce the capacity in places next month, which will now be occupied only by locals.

The ban on supporters from abroad comes just days before the Olympic torch relay starts on Thursday from Fukushima Prefecture in northeastern Japan. It lasts 121 days, across Japan with 10,000 runners, and ends on July 23 during the opening ceremony at Tokyo National Stadium.

The relay will be a test for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, in which 15,400 athletes will enter Japan. They will be tested before leaving home, tested on arrival in Japan, and tested regularly while living in a safe “bubble” in the Athletes Village near Tokyo Bay, or at places or gyms.

Athletes do not have to be vaccinated to enter Japan, but many do.

In the middle of the meeting on Saturday, Bach and others received a reminder about the earthquake that is prone to the northeast of Japan – and Japan in general.

A strong earthquake shook Tokyo and caused a tsunami warning when Bach and others made introductory remarks before the virtual meeting. The U.S. Geological Survey set a strong point of 7.0 and the site was in northeastern Japan, an area hit by a major earthquake and tsunami in 2011. About 18,000 died in the tragedy ten years ago.

“I think the screen is shaking. Did you notice that the screen was shaking, ‘said Tamayo Marukawa, the Japanese Olympic minister, when she made her presentation from Tokyo remotely with Bach on a screen in Switzerland. “We’re actually in the middle of an earthquake.”

Officials there said there were no immediate reports of damage.

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