TOKYO – Japan’s government will decide whether to let abroad spectators attend the Summer Olympics in Tokyo by the end of March, Olympics Minister Tamayo Marukawa mentioned on Wednesday.
Her comments were echoed by the head of the organizing committee for the Games, Seiko Hashimoto, who mentioned she would like to reach the decision by March 25.
Polls show most Japanese oppose holding the Games through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mainichi newspaper earlier reported that the government was planning to ban abroad spectators due to worries they might spread the coronavirus, citing multiple unnamed sources.
“On the matter of abroad spectators … I personally need to have it decided by the 25th of this month when the Olympic torch relay will be kicked off,” Hashimoto informed reporters after a virtual meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and others.
The poll – conducted between Jan. 18 and Feb. 25 – showed 70% of respondents said they were “interested in the Olympics”, but 58% said they did not want them to be held this year because of fears over COVID-19
The Tokyo Olympic Games were postponed last yr due to the pandemic and rescheduled to take place this yr from July 23.
A survey by global consultancy Kekst CNC revealed on Wednesday confirmed similar rates of majority opposition to the Games going ahead in Japan, at 56%, as well as in Britain and Germany, at 55% and 52% respectively.
In France and Sweden, more individuals opposed than approved, while in the USA, respondents were split at one-third between those who agreed and disagreed that the Games ought to go ahead, according to the survey.
Whereas coronavirus infection numbers are low in Japan compared with the United States and many European nations, the larger Tokyo metropolitan area remains in a state of emergency, with restrictions in place for spectator numbers for big sporting and cultural events, as well as closing occasions for bars and restaurants. The country remains closed to non-resident foreigners.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga mentioned on Wednesday the government was considering a two-week extension of a state of emergency within the Tokyo area due to the pressure on the medical system.
Japan has up to now confirmed 431,250 coronavirus circumstances and seven,931 deaths as of Monday.
