After countless news and rumors without a source, it is finally official: foreign viewers will be excluded from the postponed Olympic Games in Tokyo if they open in four months.
The decision was announced on Saturday following an online meeting of the International Olympic Committee, the Japanese government, the Tokyo government, the International Paralympic Committee and local organizers.
Officials said the risk is too great to include overseas ticket holders during a pandemic. The Japanese audience has also opposed fans from abroad. Several surveys have shown that up to 80% are against hosting the Olympic Games and a similar percentage against fans from overseas.
Japan has attributed about 8,800 deaths to COVID-19 and controlled the virus better than most countries.
“In order to provide clarity for ticket holders living abroad and to enable them to adjust their travel plans at this point in time, the parties on the Japanese side have come to the conclusion that they cannot enter Japan at the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games”, the Tokyo Organizing Committee said in a statement.
According to organizers, 600,000 tickets were sold to fans outside of Japan. They have promised refunds, but this is set by what are known as authorized ticket resellers who do sales outside of Japan. These dealers charge fees of up to 20% above the ticket price. It is not clear whether the fees will be reimbursed.
Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the organizing committee, said the organizers are not responsible for any money lost on flights or hotel reservations. He said this did not include a “contract with Tokyo”.
Organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto, who competed in seven Olympic Games – she won bronze in speed skating in 1992 – said there was pressure to wait longer for a decision. But she said fans could plan now. She also complained about the move.
“The fact that foreign viewers cannot attend the Games is very disappointing and regrettable,” she said. “It was an inevitable decision.”
IOC President Thomas Bach called it a “difficult decision”.
“We have to make choices that may have to be sacrificed by everyone,” he said.
Muto appeared to exclude the participation of fans who may have received tickets from sponsors with deep pockets.
“If they are part of the operation of the Games, if they have anything to do with running the Games, there is still a chance they can enter Japan,” Muto said. “But only as a spectator to watch games – no, you are not allowed to make an entry.”
The financial burden of lost ticket sales lies with Japan. The local organizing committee’s budget provided for $ 800 million in revenue from ticket sales, the third largest source of income in the privately funded budget. Any budget deficits must be made up by Japanese government agencies.
“Ticketing revenues will be in decline,” said Muto. “That is very clear at this point.”
Muto also hinted at further cuts for people on the periphery of the Olympics. He also said overseas volunteers would be “treated the same way” but details would be disclosed later.
“But as for other people involved in the games, or whether we should keep the same number – maybe we need to reduce the number. That is the consensus. That’s the prerequisite, ”he said.
In total, Japan officially spends $ 15.4 billion on organizing the Olympic Games. Several government audits have shown that the real cost can be twice as much. All but $ 6.7 billion is public money, and a study by Oxford University found these to be the most expensive Olympics ever recorded.
Approximately 4.45 million tickets were sold to residents of Japan. The organizers are expected to announce next month the capacity at venues that are now only inhabited by local residents.
The ban on fans from abroad comes just days before the start of the Olympic torch relay on Thursday in Fukushima Prefecture in northeastern Japan. It will take 121 days, across Japan with 10,000 runners, and will end on July 23 at the opening ceremony at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
The relay will be a test for the Olympic and Paralympic Games that will attract 15,400 athletes entering Japan. They are tested before departure, tested on arrival in Japan, and tested frequently while in a safe “bubble” in the athletes’ village next to Tokyo Bay or at venues or training facilities.
Athletes don’t need to be vaccinated to enter Japan, but many will.
During the meeting on Saturday, Bach and others were reminded of the earthquake-prone northeast of Japan – and Japan in general.
A powerful earthquake shook Tokyo and set off a tsunami warning when Bach and others made introductory remarks ahead of the virtual meeting. The strength was set at 7.0 by the US Geological Survey and the site was in northeastern Japan, an area that was hit by a major earthquake and tsunami in 2011. About 18,000 people were killed in this tragedy 10 years ago.
“I think the screen is shaking. Did you notice the screen is shaking? “Said Tamayo Marukawa, Japan’s Olympic Minister, when she made her presentation from Tokyo visible on a screen in Switzerland in a long-distance call with Bach. “We’re in the middle of an earthquake right now.”
Officials there said there were no immediate reports of damage.
2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo
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