Tokyo bans fans from Olympic events as virus emergency imposed
- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared a state of emergency in the capital due to a surge of Covid-19 infections
- Only around 15 per cent of the population of Japan is fully vaccinated thus far
Japanese athletes compete during a test event for the 2020 Olympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo. Fans will be banned from Tokyo-area stadiums and arenas when the Games begin in two weeks. Photo: Kyodo via APFans will be banned from most Olympic events and Tokyo will be under a virus state of emergency throughout the Games, Japanese officials announced Thursday, just two weeks before the opening ceremony.
The decision, described by Tokyo’s governor as “heartbreaking”, means the Games will be the first to take place largely behind closed doors and is another blow for organisers, as they try to build momentum for the event.
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When the Games were postponed last year as the scale of the pandemic became clear, there was talk they would be staged as proof the world had overcome the virus.
But that triumphant tone has given way to the harsh reality of new infection surges and more contagious variants, including the Delta strain that has spooked officials in Japan.
The country has seen a comparatively small virus outbreak and avoided tough lock downs, but it also moved slowly to start vaccinations and only about 15 per cent of its population is fully vaccinated so far.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike attends a press conference after the central government decided to place Tokyo under another Covid-19 state of emergency until August 22. Photo: Kyodo
With infections rising in the capital, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday announced Tokyo would be under a virus state of emergency from July 12 until August 22.
The measure is significantly looser than lock downs seen elsewhere, largely limiting alcohol sales, shortening opening hours for restaurants and capping event attendances at 5,000 people.
Organisers met Thursday evening with local and national government officials and Olympic and Paralympic chiefs to make what Tokyo 2020 chief Seiko Hashimoto termed a “very difficult decision”.
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She said spectators would be barred from venues in Tokyo and three surrounding regions, which account for the majority of Olympic events. Rules in other areas will vary, with limited spectators allowed in some regions.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), in a joint statement with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), said they respected the decision and “support it in the interest of safe and secure Games for everybody”.
“At the same time, all five parties (also including local organisers, the Japanese government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government) deeply regret for the athletes and for the spectators that this measure had to be put in place.”
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Japan has so far recorded around 14,900 deaths, despite avoiding harsh lock downs, but the government has been criticised over the slow start to its vaccination programme.
And there are concerns that the Delta variant could produce a new wave that might quickly overwhelm local medical resources.
Olympic organisers have drawn up extensive measures, including daily testing for athletes and limits on their movement, which they say will keep the public and Games participants safe.
Scaffolding for the spectator seats is seen at Aomi Urban Sports Park ahead of the start of the Olympics. Photo: Reuters
Despite the measures, Tokyo 2020 is struggling to stoke enthusiasm for the Games as the final countdown begins.
Polls show most Japanese would prefer the Games be postponed again or cancelled outright, though opposition has softened in recent weeks.