The Tokyo Olympics, which was scheduled to be held with a maximum of 10,000 spectators, was all over Tokyo in response to the spread of the new coronavirus infection again in Tokyo and the fourth state of emergency. Interviews with the people involved in the Games revealed that the event was held without spectators at the venue.

The Games Organizing Committee, the government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the IOC = International Olympic Committee, and the IPC = International Paralympic Committee decided to abandon the acceptance of spectators from overseas in March, and last month for domestic spectators. In principle, we decided to limit the maximum number of people to 10,000 within 50% of the capacity of the venue.



On the other hand, depending on the infection situation in the future, it was said that it would be handled including non-audience.



However, the spread of infection in Tokyo has not stopped, and the government has decided to issue a fourth state of emergency to Tokyo from the 12th of this month, so the competition to be held at the venue in Tokyo It was decided to turn around and hold the event without the audience.



According to the Organizing Committee, 3.63 million tickets for the general public of the Olympic Games were sold, but refunds will be taken for all venues in Tokyo, which is expected to be 90 billion yen. Ticket income that had been lost will be significantly reduced.



On the other hand, for local governments that have competition venues other than Tokyo, we will listen to the intentions of the governors of each prefecture at a meeting to be held later and decide whether or not to include spectators.

Competitions in 8 prefectures other than Tokyo

The handling of spectators in eight roads and prefectures other than Tokyo, where the Tokyo Olympic Games venue is located, is also noteworthy.



Priority measures such as prevention of spread will be extended,


▽ Wrestling, taekwondo, fencing and surfing in Chiba prefecture


▽ Basketball and soccer in Saitama prefecture, and golf


▽ Baseball / softball, soccer and sailing will be held in Kanagawa prefecture is.



In addition to


soccer

,

▽ Sapporo City will compete with marathons,


▽ Miyagi Prefecture will play soccer,


▽ Fukushima Prefecture will play baseball and softball,


▽ Ibaraki Prefecture will play soccer, and


▽ Shizuoka Prefecture will play bicycles.

Background of the discussions of the Olympic spectators

After the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics was decided, the Games Organizing Committee and the IOC = International Olympic Committee have been considering reducing the number of spectators in order to aim for a safe and secure tournament.



The Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the government, and the IOC and the IPC = International Paralympic Committee held a five-party meeting in March to accept spectators from overseas because the effects of the mutated coronavirus could not be predicted. I decided to give up.



On the other hand, regarding the upper limit of the number of spectators in Japan, at a five-party meeting last month,


▽ Olympics decided that the upper limit is 10,000 people within 50% of the capacity of the venue,


▽ Paralympics by 16th this month I was going to decide.



After that, in response to the increase in the number of people infected with the new corona in Tokyo, the Organizing Committee discussed the treatment of spectators again after seeing the government's response to priority measures such as declaration of emergency and prevention of spread. It showed a policy to do.

Tournament volunteers

Volunteers at the tournament said that there was no choice but to complain that there was no explanation of the outlook in the process leading up to this decision.



Norio Hasegawa (67), a volunteer recruited by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government who lives in Machida, Tokyo, has continued to prepare for muscle training even after the tournament was postponed for one year.



However, since the main activity of volunteers in the city is to guide the audience, there is a possibility that there will be almost no place for activities if there are no audience.



Mr. Hasegawa says, "Unfortunately, I have to accept it considering the state of emergency. There is no choice."



On top of that, about the fact that the decision was just before the opening, "I feel that it is being treated randomly. As the top of the host city, I did not tell us that I want you to wait because I think this way." I'm still dissatisfied. For volunteers, even if it's the worst result, I think it would have changed if they showed us the prospect of this happening early. "



In addition, Mr. Hasegawa says, "I would like you to show scientific data, look back, and explain why the infection could not be suppressed."