Will we be able to travel to Japan to attend the 2020 Olympic Games, organized this summer 2021?
The final decision must be taken at the end of March at the latest, but according to the columns of some Japanese media on Thursday, the organizers of the Tokyo-2020 Olympics are already inclined to ban spectators from abroad.
In this context of the Covid-19 health crisis, the Japanese are very reluctant to hold these Games.
The Japanese government, the city of Tokyo and the organizing committee of the Olympics would be in favor of holding the event in front of a local audience only, indicate several local media including the daily Yomiuri.
Officials fear that an influx of foreign visitors could endanger the Japanese public.
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"As the spread of the coronavirus continues in all countries, they have decided that allowing the arrival of foreign visitors on a large scale will only make people anxious," said the Yomiuri.
The day before, the president of the organizing committee Seiko Hashimoto affirmed to make the safety of the Japanese her “priority”, after having met with officials of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Japanese government and the city of Tokyo.
Already 900,000 tickets sold outside Japan
Stakeholders have agreed to make a decision by the end of the month, ideally before the start of the Olympic Torch Relay on March 25 in Japan.
IOC President Thomas Bach said organizers should focus on the essentials of the Games, while Japanese Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa said a "cautious decision" was needed.
Thomas Bach announced last week a likely decision in late April or early May regarding audiences from overseas, but Seiko Hashimoto said Wednesday that supporters, hotels and tour operators should be notified sooner.
Around 900,000 tickets for the event have already been sold outside of Japan.
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For tickets sold in the Archipelago, the size of the stands at each competition venue will be determined in April.
The coronavirus state of emergency currently in place in greater Tokyo, which was due to end on Sunday, will likely be extended by about two weeks.
The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled from July 23 to August 8, despite the persistence of the health crisis.
