TOKYO (CU)_ International spectators will be barred from attending this year’s Olympic Games in Japan owing to public concerns over Coronavirus, the organisers of the international multi-sport event announced on Saturday (20 March).
According to Toshiro Muto, the chief executive of the event’s organising committee, around 600,000 Olympic tickets already purchased by residents overseas will be refunded, although he declined to reveal how much the refunds would cost.
He however noted that costs of hotel cancellations would not be covered.
“People who are involved in the Olympics in some way may be allowed to enter the country, whereas regular visitors will not be able to,” Muto said.
The Olympic Games were initially scheduled to be held in summer 2020, but this had to be postponed to July and August this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tokyo 2020 organisers said in a statement that the recent decision on international spectators will “ensure safe and secure Games for all participants and the Japanese public”.
It has also been revealed that the event’s organisers may consider reducing the number of staff members participating in the Games as well.
Head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, said in a statement that he shared the disappointment of international fans as well as the families and friends of the athletes who planned to visit Tokyo for the event.
“For this I’m truly sorry. We know that this is a great sacrifice for everybody. We have said from the very beginning of this pandemic that it will require sacrifices,” he said.
Nevertheless, he noted that “our Japanese partners and friends did not reach this conclusion lightly”, as safety had to come first.
“Together with them, the IOC’s top priority was, is and remains to organise safe Olympic and Paralympic Games for everyone,” Bach said.
