Tokyo Olympics to be held without any fans due to Covid-19 emergency

In a huge blow to the Tokyo Olympics, fans will reportedly be barred from attending the Games due to Japan’s Covid emergency.

There will be no fans or spectators allowed at the Tokyo Olympic Games. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

The Tokyo Olympics will be held without fans after Japan was plunged into a state of emergency due to a rise in the number of Covid-19 infections.

Local news outlet Kyodo News is reporting the Japanese government confirmed the decision to hold the Games without spectators late on Thursday night (AEST).

Olympic venues in Tokyo and the surrounding areas of Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama will not be allowed to host fans during the Games, which run from 23 July to 8 August.

The crucial decision was made at a meeting of the organisers, including the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee.

IOC president Thomas Bach met remotely with Japanese organisers and committed to taking all necessary measures to hold the Olympics in a safe environment.

“We have shown this responsibility since the day of the postponement,” he said.

“And we will also show it today, and we will support any measure which is necessary to have a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games for the Japanese people and all the participants.”

Tokyo Olympic minister Tamayo Marukawa confirmed the disappointing news to the media.

“Venues in Tokyo will be not including spectators,” she said.

“For those areas where the state of emergency is not implemented ... we will discuss.”

Earlier on Thursday, Japan’s government announced a new virus state of emergency stretching throughout the Olympics, as reports said organisers could bar fans from almost all events at the Games.

With just two weeks until the July 23 opening ceremony, coronavirus infections are rising in the capital, and the spread of the more infectious Delta variant has spooked officials.

The rising cases threaten to derail plans to let up to 10,000 local fans into Olympic venues, and could mean Tokyo 2020 is the first ever Games held behind closed doors.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the emergency measures — which are far looser than the harsh lockdowns seen in other parts of the world — will be in place until August 22.

But the government could lift the emergency earlier “if the effect of vaccines becomes clear and an improvement is seen in the situation of hospital beds”, Suga said.

Earlier in the day, Japan’s minister in charge of the virus response Yasutoshi Nishimura warned that new Covid-19 cases were rising in the capital.

“As the movement of people increases, the more infectious Delta variant now accounts for around 30 percent of cases. This is expected to expand further,” he added.

Under the virus emergency, alcohol will be banned at bars and restaurants, which will have to close by 8pm, Nishimura said. Events such as concerts and conferences will have to end by 9pm.

And crucially, spectators at events will be capped at 5000 people or 50 percent venue capacity, whichever is less.

The decision puts pressure on Olympic organisers who are scrambling to make a final ruling on how many local fans, if any, will be in the stands at the Games.

Japan’s new state of emergency would prevent any fans from attending events at the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

Several Japanese media outlets said organisers were now likely to bar spectators from all competition venues in Tokyo and three surrounding areas.

Tokyo 2020 organisers are expected to meet with local and national government officials and the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees as early as Thursday evening to make the key decision.

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Japan’s concerns over latest strain of virus

While Japan has so far experienced a relatively small virus outbreak, with around 14,900 deaths despite avoiding harsh lockdowns, its vaccination programme has moved comparatively slowly.

Just over 15 percent of the population is fully vaccinated so far, and there are concerns that the Delta variant could produce a new wave that might quickly overwhelm local medical resources.

Overseas fans have already been barred from attending the Olympics, and organisers last month said they would limit local spectators to 10,000 people or 50 percent venue capacity.

But they have acknowledged that the figure might be further reduced, saying the Games could even be held behind closed doors if the virus situation worsened and tougher restrictions were imposed in Tokyo.

Ticketholders for oversubscribed events were supposed to find out on Tuesday whether they would still have seats after a lottery to thin the crowds.

But in a sign of the continued wrangling on the issue, those results have now been pushed back until Saturday.

Patty Mills, one of Australia’s flagbearers for the Olympics, could represent Australian at the opening ceremony in front of barely any spectators. Picture: Matt Adekponya

IOC chief Thomas Bach arrived in Tokyo on Thursday afternoon, and will have to undergo a three-day quarantine before being allowed limited movement.

Games participants have already begun arriving in Japan, with 11,000 Olympic athletes from around 200 countries set to take part.

Olympic participants generally will not have to observe a full 14-day quarantine, but will face restrictions during their time in Japan, with athletes limited to venues and the Olympic Village and tested daily for the virus.

Tokyo 2020 is struggling to build momentum and enthusiasm for the Games as the final countdown begins.

A torch relay that was supposed to stoke excitement as it travelled nationwide has been taken off public roads in much of the country over virus risks, and even its legs in the capital will now be held without spectators.

And fans have been asked to avoid the route of the Olympic marathon when it is run in northern Hokkaido.

Polls show most Japanese would prefer the Games be postponed again or cancelled outright, though opposition has softened in recent weeks.