After holding a meeting with various bodies, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Saturday announced that overseas spectators will not be allowed at the upcmoing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Tokyo due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
“Today, the five parties [the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), the Organising Committee Tokyo 2020 and the government of Japan] met virtually. During the meeting, the IOC and IPC were informed, as outlined below, about the conclusion of the Japanese parties not to allow entry into Japan for overseas spectators for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 due to the prevailing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic,” said a statement posted on the official website of the Tokyo Games.
“Olympic and Paralympic tickets purchased by overseas residents from the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will be refunded,” said the statement.
“Currently, the COVID-19 situation in Japan and many other countries around the world is still very challenging and a number of variant strains have emerged, whilst international travel remains severely restricted globally. Based on the present situation of the pandemic, it is highly unlikely that entry into Japan will be guaranteed this summer for people from overseas,” it said.
“In order to give clarity to ticket holders 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 will not be able to enter into Japan at the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This conclusion will further contribute to ensure safe and secure Games for all participants and the Japanese public.”
Significantly, the Tokyo Games were supposed to be held in 2020 but were delayed by a year due to the pandemic.
It will now be held between July 23 and August 8.