32 days before the opening of the next Summer Olympics in Tokyo, from July 23 to August 8, the question about the presence of spectators in the stands has been lifted.

The Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games in the Japanese capital announced on Monday, June 21, authorizing the presence of spectators at 50% of the capacity of each site and up to a maximum limit of 10,000 people.

The public will be only Japanese, the organizers having chosen in March to prohibit foreign spectators from coming to Tokyo, due to the health risks linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is a first in Olympic history.

The emergence of this new coronavirus has already resulted in the postponement of these Games from summer 2020 to this summer.

The spectator limit for the Olympic Games will be set at 50% of venue capacity, up to a maximum of 10,000 people at all venues.



For more information on what was agreed upon at today's five-party meeting: https://t.co/On7tfGKidm

- # Tokyo2020 (@ Tokyo2020) June 21, 2021

The decision to allow spectators to attend was taken during an online meeting with the Organizing Committee, the Japanese government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the International Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee.

On Sunday, the state of health emergency was lifted in Tokyo and other departments.

Japan, however, remains very attentive to the situation in the country.

Some restrictions remain and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has warned that they could be tightened if needed.

Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo, said that "if there is a drastic change in the infection situation, we may need to re-examine this issue among ourselves and consider the option of no spectators on the sites".

A draw will determine who, among the people who already have tickets for the Olympic Games, will be able to attend the events.

The lucky ones will have the obligation to wear masks.

In addition, they will be "forbidden to speak aloud or to shout".

With AFP

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR