TOKYO – Spectators from abroad will be barred from participating in the Tokyo Olympics when they open in four months, the IOC and local organizers said on Saturday.
The decision was announced after an online meeting of the International Olympic Committee, the Japanese government, the Tokyo government, the International Paralympic Committee and local organizers.
The change was expected and there were rumors for several months. The authorities said the risk was too great to allow ticket holders from abroad during a pandemic, an idea strongly contested by the Japanese public. Japan attributed about 8,800 deaths to COVID-19 and controlled the virus better than most countries.
“In order to give clarity to ticket holders living abroad and to allow 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 Japan at the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” the Tokyo organizing committee said in a statement.
About 1 million tickets have been reported to have been sold to fans outside of Japan. Organizers have promised refunds, but this will be determined by so-called Authorized Ticket Resellers who handle sales outside of Japan. These dealers charge fees up to 20% above of the ticket price. It is not clear whether the fees will be reimbursed.
“We could wait until the last moment to decide, except for the spectators,” said Seiko Hashimoto, chairman of the organizing committee. “They have to guarantee accommodation and flights. Therefore, we have to decide in advance, otherwise we will cause a lot of inconvenience to them. I know this is a very difficult issue. “
IOC President Thomas Bach called it a “difficult decision”.
“We have to make decisions that may require everyone to sacrifice,” he said.
The financial weight of lost ticket sales falls on Japan. The budget of the local organizing committee generated revenue of $ 800 million from ticket sales, the third largest source of revenue in the private financing budget. Any budget deficit will have to be made up for by Japanese government entities.
Overall, Japan is officially spending $ 15.4 billion to organize the Olympics. Several government audits claim that the real cost can be doubled. All, except $ 6.7 billion, are public money.
About 4.45 million tickets have been sold to residents in Japan. Organizers are due to announce next month the capacity of the venues, which will be occupied by local residents.
The ban on foreign fans comes just days before the start of the Olympic torch relay on Thursday in Fukushima prefecture in northeastern Japan. It will last 121 days, crossing Japan with 10,000 runners, and should end on 23 July at the opening ceremony at Tokyo National Stadium.
The relay will be a test for the Olympics and Paralympics, which will involve 15,400 athletes entering Japan. They will be tested before leaving home, tested on arrival in Japan and often while residing in a safe “bubble” in the Athletes’ Village next door. of Tokyo Bay.
Athletes will not need to be vaccinated to enter Japan, but many will be.
In the middle of Saturday’s meeting, Bach and others received a reminder about northeast Japan, subject to earthquakes – and Japan in general.
A strong earthquake shook Tokyo and triggered a tsunami warning when Bach and others made introductory comments before the virtual meeting. The force was rated 7.0 by the US Geological Survey and the location was in northeastern Japan, an area hit by a major earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
“I think the screen is shaking. You noticed that the screen is shaking, ”said Tamayo Marukawa, Japan’s Olympic minister, while giving her presentation in Tokyo, talking remotely to Bach, visible on a screen in Switzerland. “In fact, we are in the middle of an earthquake right now.”
Authorities said there were no immediate reports of damage.