China News Service, March 10 According to a report from Kyodo News on the 9th, the Japanese government has basically decided that the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will not accept ordinary audiences from overseas.
In addition, the launch ceremony of the torch relay will adopt a form without spectators.
Data map: Olympic rings on Tokyo Bay.
According to reports, there are opinions that the five-party consultation with representatives from the Japanese government, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) will be held again as soon as next week. Undergo verification.
Mutated strains of the new crown virus have appeared, and Japan now does not allow new foreigners to enter the country in principle.
The future epidemic is unpredictable, and public opinion is also very uneasy. Therefore, the Japanese government judges that it is difficult for ordinary audiences to enter the country.
Because it does not accept overseas visitors, the government's strategy of restoring tourism demand and spurring economic recovery will have to be adjusted.
The Olympic Organizing Committee will promote the refund of tickets sold overseas.
In addition, the upper limit of the number of visitors in Japan is planned to be decided in April.
In an interview with Kyodo News on the 9th, the chairman of the Tokyo Olympic Committee Hashimoto Seiko also said that due to restrictions on the number of days in the Olympic Village, the number of athletes at the opening ceremony will be reduced to about one-third of the previous.
She also believes that it is necessary to prevent the emergence of infected persons and discuss flexible responses such as changing the game schedule.
Data map: Seiko Hashimoto, chairman of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee.
Hashimoto said that he also envisages that the epidemic will worsen, and "empty venues (holding) are not completely impossible. Preparations need to consider all situations to respond."
Regarding the suspension of the Olympics, she said that "there is no such plan at this stage."
On the other hand, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee also plans to increase the frequency of new crown testing for athletes, strictly manage the actions of relevant persons and reduce the number of people, etc., to strengthen countermeasures.
The opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic torch relay will be held at the Japan National Football Training Center in Fukushima on March 25. It was originally planned to have about 3,000 spectators participating. However, considering the risk of spread of the epidemic caused by close contact, the Olympic Organizing Committee decided only Guests are invited to participate.
In order to prevent the possible risk of virus transmission during the torch relay, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee has formulated detailed epidemic prevention measures for the torch relay, which requires spectators along the way to wear masks and prohibit cheering.
However, there are still some torchbearers who have announced their withdrawal from the torch relay for fear of the spread of the virus, including many celebrities in the performing arts and sports circles.
The Tokyo Olympics are expected to be held from July 23 to August 8. The latest poll by Japan's "Yomiuri Shimbun" showed that 77% of respondents opposed the opening of Eastern Olympics to foreign audiences, while only 18% agreed. The Japanese people are worried that the influx of international tourists may trigger another surge in the number of people infected.