Foreign fans “are PROHIBITED from the Tokyo Olympics” in an attempt to assuage Japanese fears about new Covid variants entering the country while staying behind with vaccines … but the Games are still going on
- The government of Japan will ban foreign fans from attending the Olympic Games
- A local news agency claims that public fears about Covid-19 are behind the decision
- Local viewers are expected to be able to watch this summer’s delayed Games
- Japan’s vaccination program got off to a slow start due to supply problems
- Foreign athletes, coaches, officials and media must present a negative Covid test
- Japan is in a state of emergency amid fears about the arrival of new mutant variants
Japan’s government decided to hold the late Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, without foreign spectators, it said on Tuesday.
Japanese news agency Kyodo reported that public concerns about the spread of Covid-19 were a key factor behind the decision.
Citing officials with knowledge of the matter, Kyodo said the government concluded that receiving fans from abroad would not be possible.
The delayed Tokyo Olympics are expected to take place this summer, but without foreign spectators
The government of Japan is concerned about the potential spread of coronavirus in the Games
The detection of more contagious variants in many countries has also been cited as one of the main reasons for closing the Games for those outside Japan.
Japan’s coronavirus vaccination program has been hampered by a lack of supply and a shortage of special syringes needed to inject into the population.
Since the campaign began three weeks ago, just under 46,500 doses have been administered to frontline health workers last Friday.
At the current rate, it would take 126 years to vaccinate Japan’s 126 million population. However, supplies are expected to increase in the coming months.
Unlike many other countries, Japan requires that clinical trials of new drugs, including vaccines, be conducted with Japanese patients, delaying the approval process.
Japan’s Covid vaccination program has started slowly over the past three weeks
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga must confirm that foreign fans will be banned
So far, only the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has been approved. Clinical trials have been conducted in Japan for AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines and the vaccines are now awaiting regulatory approval.
Last week, Sportsmail reported that the delayed Olympics, which were originally supposed to take place last summer, were set to take place without foreign fans.
Organizers still hope that some national fans will be able to participate in the events, with ongoing conversations about how many may be allowed to enter the premises. The decision on this should be made by April.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach had a meeting with Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto earlier this month, both suggesting a ban on spectators from abroad.
Organizers still hope that some domestic fans will be able to attend the Olympics
The Olympic rings are in front of Japan’s Olympic headquarters and the new National Stadium
Hashimoto said the safety of the Japanese public was the ‘priority’ and admitted: ‘We really need to think a lot about the mutant strains of the virus.
‘Anxiety still remains among the voices of citizens and, as long as there is anxiety, we need to work to ensure that security is maintained. Foreign and domestic fans want to watch the Games, but security and protection need to be maintained and guaranteed. ‘
Bach said: ‘We are doing everything to ensure the safety of the Games for all participants, but also for the Japanese people and the population of Tokyo in particular.
‘We are at your side, you have all of our commitment. It is in our interest as much as it is yours, and it is our common obligation to ensure the safety of everyone. ‘
IOC President Thomas Bach hinted that foreign fans were banned from the Games this month
Foreign athletes, coaches, officials and media will not have to be quarantined upon arrival in Japan, but will have to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test and their movements will be restricted while in the country.
However, such restrictions would be difficult to enforce for foreign fans and the Japanese government wants to focus on border controls to ensure that the Games can continue.
Tokyo is still in a state of emergency due to the pandemic and, although the number of cases is falling, the measures were extended for another two weeks on March 4.