In a series of postponements and disruptions, the Summer Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games will finally be going ahead. However, foreign spectators will be unable to attend events because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Olympics, which was set to commence last year, is now scheduled to take place this summer between July 23rd to August 8th whilst the Paralympics will run later this year from August 24th to September 5th.
Kyodo News reports via Hypebeast, “The organising committee has decided it is essential to hold the ceremony in the northeastern prefecture of Fukushima behind closed doors, only permitting participants and invitees to take part in the event, to avoid large crowds forming amid the pandemic.”
This decision had been confirmed by the Tokyo Olympics organising committee stating that “factors including the state of infections in Japan and other countries, possible epidemic-prevention measures, and expert scientific advice.”
According to Reuters via Hypebeast, around 70-80% of ticket sales in previous Games had been made up of local tickets. In December 2020, The Tokyo Olympics organising committee expected an $800m [€668m] influx through projected ticket sales. Japanese citizens had also shown their stance against international visitors attending the Olympics in surveys.
Tokyo remains in a state of emergency despite a significantly lower rate of pandemic infections compared to the U.S and Europe.
Source: Hypebeast