Tokyo – Viewers from abroad will be banned from the Tokyo Olympics for four months, with the IOC and local organizers opening on Saturday.
The decision was announced after an online meeting of the International Olympic Committee, Japanese Government, Tokyo Government, International Paralympic Committee and local organizers.
The move was expected and was rumored for several months. Officials said the risk was too good to accept ticket holders from abroad during an epidemic, an idea that was strongly opposed by the Japanese public. Japan has attributed COVID-19 to about 8,800 deaths and controlled the virus better than most countries.
“To give clarity to ticket holders living abroad and to enable them to adjust their travel plans to this level, the Japanese side has come to the conclusion that they will not be able to enter Japan. The Olympic and Paralympic Games, “The Tokyo Organizing Committee said in a statement.
About 1 million tickets are reported to have been sold to fans outside of Japan. The organizers have promised a refund, but it will be determined by so-called authorized ticket resellers handling sales outside of Japan. These dealers charge up to 20% more than the ticket price. It is not clear whether the fees will be refunded.
“We can leave the audience and wait till the last moment,” said Seiko Hashimoto, the chairman of the organizing committee. “They have to secure accommodation and flights. So we have to decide quickly 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 take decisions that require everyone’s sacrifice,” he said.
The financial burden of lost ticket sales falls on Japan. The budget of the local organizing committee derives $ 800 million in income from the sale of tickets, the third largest income source in the private finance budget. Any shortfall in the budget will be made by Japanese governmental entities.
In total, Japan is officially spending $ 15.4 billion to organize the Olympics. Many government audits state that the actual cost could be double this. All but 6.7 billion dollars is public money.
Nearly 4.45 million tickets were sold to residents of Japan. Next month organizers are expected to announce capacity at the venues, which will be filled by local residents.
The ban on fans from abroad comes just days before the Olympic torch relay, which begins Thursday in Fukushima Prefecture in northeastern Japan. It will run for 121 days, spread to Japan with 10,000 runners, and conclude at the opening ceremony on July 23 at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
The relay will be a test for the Olympics and Paralympics, with 15,400 athletes entering Japan. They will be tested before leaving Japan, tested when they arrive in Japan, and are often tested while staying in a safe “bubble” at the Athletes Village along 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 were reminded of the earthquake-hit Northeast Japan – and Japan in general.
The strong earthquake shook Tokyo and warned of a tsunami in the form of Bach and others making introductory remarks before the virtual meeting. The strength was reported by the US Geological Survey as 7.0 and the location was in northeast Japan, the region affected by a major earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
“I think the screen is moving. Have you noticed that the screen is shaking, ”said Japan’s Olympic Minister, Tamayo Marukawa, as he made his presentation from Tokyo while talking remotely to Bach appearing on a screen in Switzerland. “We are indeed in the midst of an earthquake.”
Officials there said there were no immediate reports of damage.
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