We wrote on March 10 that it looked as if only residents of Japan would be allowed to attend the Games in person, and that is indeed the case.
It was confirmed today that foreign spectators have been banned from the Games because of Covid fears. A majority of the Japanese residents polled recently said they thought the Games should be cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic. But the International Olympic Committee has said there is no Plan B and that the Games will go ahead. However, compromises have had to be made, and this is just one of them.
As IOC President Thomas Bach said in explaining he organizers’ position, “Every decision has to respect the principle of safety first. I know that our Japanese partners and friends did not reach this conclusion lightly.
“Together with them, the IOC’s top priority was, is and remains to organize safe Olympic and Paralympic Games for everyone: all the participants and, of course, our gracious hosts, the Japanese people.
“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder at the side of our Japanese partners and friends, without any kind of reservation, to make the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games a great success.
“Together with our Rights-Holding Broadcasters, we will make every effort so that the fans from around the world will be able to experience the Olympic spirit.
“In this way, the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be the light at the end of the tunnel and a safe manifestation of peace, solidarity and the resilience of humankind in overcoming the pandemic.”