Tokyo opening ceremony is set for a fan ban
Japan is considering barring all but VIP spectators from the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics in another blow for a Games already without foreign fans.
Japan is considering barring all but VIP spectators from the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, another downgrade for the Games that have had their pomp and spectacle tarnished by Covid-19.
Once promoted as an extravaganza to showcase Japan to the world, the Games appear in danger of taking place largely without spectators in a country closed to visitors from abroad because of the pandemic and with areas around Tokyo still under restrictions.
The Games, already delayed a year, are set to open on July 23 despite concern that an influx of tens of thousands of people from around the world could trigger new waves of infections.
Plans for the opening ceremony remain under wraps but the As a hi newspaper, ahead of talks with the international olympic Committee and other organisers, has reported that the government would slash the number of VIPS, such as sponsors' guests and diplomats, at the opening ceremony from an initial estimate of about 10,000.
During the Games, events at large venues and those after 9 pm would also be held without spectators, the paper said, citing multiple unidentified government sources.
Organisers have already banned spectators from overseas and set a cap on domestic spectators at 50 per cent of capacity, up to 10,000 people.
With the public nervous about new clusters of infections, medical experts have said no spectators would bethel east risky option.
The question of spectators is due to be decided at fivetorch way talks tomorrow that will include the tokyo governor and IOC President Thomas Bach, who arrives in Japan that day.
The government looks likely to decide tomorrow to extend a state of quasi-emergency in Tokyo and three nearby prefectures beyond an original end-date of July 11, government sources have said.
Kyodo News reported that the extension would likely last a month, meaning the curbs will be in place throughout the Olympics, which close with a ceremony on August 8.
When the Games were postponed last year, Japanese officialssaid they hoped they would be held in 2021 as a symbol of "victory" by humankind over the virus.
With that celebration on hold as countries around the world grapple with new outbreaks, they now say the Games will help bring together a divided world.
In another blow, the Olympic relay, set to reach Tokyo on Friday and parade through the city until the opening ceremony, will be moved off public roads. Instead, torch-lighting ceremonies without spectators will be held, the Yomiuri newspaper reported.
Organisers also said they would ask the public not to gather to watch the marathon and walking races being held on streets.
Asked about spectators, top governments pokes mank at sunobu Kato told a news conferencethat prime minister yoshih id eSug ahas said holding the Games without spectators was a possibility.
Suga was keen to have fans in the stadiums, the Asahi said, but added some ruling party members wanted a ban, especially after the ruling coalition failed to win a majority in an election for Tokyo's assembly on Sunday, partly due to dissatisfactionwith the government' s Covid-19 response.