Tokyo Olympics: the new state of health emergency further complicates the organization of the Games
Tokyo 2020 logos displayed on a street near Odaiba Seaside Park, Tokyo, July 7, 2021 © Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP
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While the Olympic torch relay is already taking place behind closed doors in Japan, the increase in the number of cases in the country may further hamper the conduct of the Tokyo Olympics.
A new state of health emergency was introduced this Thursday, July 8 until August 22, the day before the opening of the event.
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The Olympic torch relay has been taking place behind closed doors since it left Fukushima in March.
His appearances on the public highway are rare, says our correspondent in Tokyo,
Frédéric Charles
.
Tokyoites won't see it, except for a small island administered by the capital, 900 kilometers south of the capital.
The Tokyoites will escape the flame, but not the presence of Thomas Bach, the boss of the International Olympic Committee.
He arrived this Thursday in Japan two weeks before the scheduled opening of the Olympic Games lead to the pandemic.
New state of health emergency
There is a resurgence of ailments in Tokyo.
"
The number of new cases continues to increase in Tokyo,
" said Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japanese minister responsible for the Covid-19 file, on Thursday.
“
With the increase in the movement of people, the Delta variant, which is more infectious, now represents around 30
% of cases.
This figure is expected to increase further
”.
Yasutoshi Nishimura announced that the new state of health emergency formalized by the Prime Minister during the day, would last until August 22 and set a ceiling of 5,000 spectators or 50% of the capacity of a site, according to the figure on lower.
The Olympics are scheduled from July 23 to August 8.
Games organizers are looking to limit the number of official guests for the opening ceremony.
Japanese media have raised the possibility of a closed session at most of the Olympic venues in Greater Tokyo.
The leader of the main opposition party says Thomas Bach should also be banned from Japan.
►Also read: Tokyo Olympics: the Emperor of Japan worried about a "possible acceleration of infections"
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