Olympics bans spectators after Tokyo declares COVID-19 state of emergency

Singapore: The Japanese government has declared a state of emergency and spectators have been banned from attending Olympic events in Tokyo, as the capital races to get surging coronavirus infections under control.

The decision was formally announced on Thursday night following talks between the government, Tokyo organisers and Olympic and paralympic representatives.

It was “regrettable” that the Games were going to be held in a limited format, Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto told a briefing, adding her apologies to those who had bought tickets.

The Olympic Stadium in Tokyo Credit: Getty Images

The decision will affect venues in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures. The four areas span metropolitan Tokyo and its surrounds and are home to all the major Olympic venues, including the Olympic Stadium where the athletics will be held and the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, where the swimming will begin on July 24.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday declared the state of emergency, the city’s fourth, will run until August 22.

He said the Delta variant had triggered growing infection clusters throughout the city.

“Taking into consideration the impact of the Delta strain, and in order to prevent the resurgence of infections from spreading across the country, we need to step up virus prevention measures,” he said.

Tokyo will become the first Olympic Games to be held under a state of emergency. The city recorded 920 new cases on Wednesday, its highest since May 13. The figure included two staff working in the athletes’ village.

Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan’s coronavirus response minister, said on Thursday the number of cases was continuing to rise in Tokyo as businesses flout restrictions and the public becomes wary of limiting their activities.

“People are moving around more and the Delta variant, which is highly infectious, is accounting for about 30 per cent of cases,” he said.

The Japanese capital emerged from a state of emergency on June 20 and Olympics organisers were hopeful of allowing 10,000 domestic fans to attend – or 50 per cent capacity – but those prospects appear to have been dashed.

The International Olympic Committee and Tokyo Organising Committee are expected to outline further details after midnight AEST.

Compared to restrictions in other countries, Japan’s emergency measures are relatively light. Schools, cinemas, department stores and gyms have remained open. The public has been asked to limit social contact, but this has not been enforced.

Authorities have also been reluctant to introduce stay-at-home orders or closures of non-essential businesses.

Beyond limits on spectators, the state of emergency is expected to largely target alcohol sales by stopping bars and restaurants selling drinks to prevent transmission indoors in tightly-packed venues.

When the state of emergency was last lifted on June 20 bars were permitted to serve alcohol again but only until 8pm or risk being fined.

A Nikkei survey of 300 Tokyo bars and restaurants on Wednesday found 40 per cent were still selling drinks after 8pm regardless of the restrictions. The government is also facing an ongoing legal challenge from one of Japan’s most high-profile restaurant chains, Global-Dining, which argues the limits are a breach of freedom of business guaranteed by the constitution.

The empty Tokyo stadiums would leave venues in Sapporo, where the Australian men’s football team will open their campaign; Fukushima, where the Australian women’s softball team will take the hosts on July 21; and the Izu cycling velodrome as some of the only venues to host a limited number of spectators.

Dr Shigeru Omi, the head of the Japanese government’s COVID-19 panel told a parliamentary hearing last week the Olympics would increase infections.

“There are many risks that can trigger an upsurge,” he said.

In a rare public statement on June 24, a spokesman for Emperor Naruhito said the Palace was concerned about the Games.

“Given the public’s worries, he appears to me to be concerned about whether the Olympics and Paralympics event, for which he is an honorary patron, would cause infections to spread,” Imperial Household Grand Steward Yasuhiko Nishimura said.

Suga is facing ongoing political pressure over the decision to continue supporting the Games as he prepares to face an election before October. His ruling Liberal Democratic Party failed to win a majority in local Tokyo government elections on Sunday.

with Reuters

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