Decision on fans in stands expected in March

TOKYO The Tokyo Games organizing committee will announce its basic decision on whether to accept spectators at the Games around March 25, when the Olympic torch relay begins, committee president Seiko Hashimoto said Thursday.

The Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games had been indicating that it would make a decision by spring, but this was the first time a specific time frame was mentioned.

Hashimoto made the comment after a meeting with Japan Sports Agency commissioner Koji Murofushi at the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.

“It would be better to present a general picture of spectators at the earliest possible stage,” Hashimoto said. “When the torchbearers run, it means we are running toward the opening of the Games. I think this timing is important.”

Regarding international spectators, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said on Wednesday, “Maybe April, early May, we would have to take this decision.”

He was speaking at an online press conference after an IOC executive board meeting that Hashimoto also attended via video conference.

He pointed out that the timing of the decision is influenced by issues such as ticket sales and immigration control.

IOC Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi also said at the same press conference that “towards end of April would be the right time” to make the decision in order to allow international attendees to decide whether or not to travel to Japan.