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According to a media report, the Japanese government is seeking to exclude foreign viewers from the Tokyo Olympics.

The background is the continuing great concern among the population about the spread of the corona virus, wrote the newspaper "Mainichi" on Wednesday, citing several unnamed sources.

Further checks will therefore be made as to whether Japanese fans are allowed to attend the summer games in the arenas and to what extent the number of spectators should be limited.

A final decision on the audience question should be made in March, it said.

The games planned for 2020 in Tokyo had been postponed by a year in the previous year due to the corona crisis.

In Japan, according to surveys, a large majority recently voted in favor of rescheduling or canceling the games completely.

"Mainichi" quoted a government source as saying: "In the current circumstances, we cannot accept viewers from abroad."

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As recently as December, the Japanese organizing committee confirmed that it wanted to allow as many foreign visitors as possible into the country.

A general mask requirement and the requirement to use a corona warning app should apply to them.

IOC President Bach on vaccinations for athletes

In the past few weeks, however, doubts about these plans have grown.

“It's nice to have spectators.

But it's not a must, ”said Richard Pound, the longest-serving member of the International Olympic Committee.

"If the only way to organize these games is not to have spectators present, then everyone accepts that now," said Sebastian Coe, the head of the World Athletics Federation.

Meanwhile, IOC President Thomas Bach has assured the Japanese Olympic hosts that many athletes will already arrive with a corona vaccination.

A "considerable number" of the 206 National Olympic Committees have already ensured vaccinations for their athletes, said Bach on Wednesday at the beginning of a video session with the Olympic organizers.

Another larger amount of NOKs is in good talks with the respective governments so that Olympic participants can be vaccinated early on after the risk groups.

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The measures against the corona virus are the "key to the success" of the Tokyo Games, which have been postponed by a year, said the head of the International Olympic Committee.

The IOC is unreservedly on the side of the Japanese hosts.

In the further preparations, the focus must be on "safe, protected and fair competitions".

“That is the core of the Olympic Games,” said Bach.

Organization head Seiko Hashimoto, Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa and Tokyo Governor Yoriko Koike also emphasized the importance of the corona measures.

"Safety comes first," said Koike.

In addition, they want to make the games leaner and more efficient.

"We cut the fat off," announced Hashimoto.

Because of the postponement and the corona measures alone, the organizing committee expects additional costs of around 2.3 billion euros.

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