Tokyo 2020: Olympics organisers confirm fans banned at venues
The decision was taken following a meeting between organisers for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, plus the Japanese government.
It was announced Tokyo will once more enter a state of emergency, which will run until at least August 22, amid rising coronavirus cases.
Japan’s Olympics minister Tamayo Marukawa is quoted as saying: “We reached an agreement on no spectators at venues in Tokyo.”
Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said it is “regrettable”, while adding: “A very heavy judgement was made…[but we] no choice but to hold the Games in a limited way.”
The decision was widely expected but marks a fresh blow for the Games, which were postponed by a year because of the global pandemic.
Many residents of Japan have expressed opposition to the Games due to the hordes of athletes, officials and media arriving from overseas.
