TOKYO – Overseas spectators will not be able to participate in the Tokyo Olympics when they open in four months, IOC and local organizers said on Saturday.
The decision was announced after an online meeting of the International Olympic Committee, the Japanese government, the Tokyo government, the International Paralympic Committee and local organizers.
The move was expected and rumored for several months. Officials said the risk was too great to admit overseas ticket holders during a pandemic, an idea strongly opposed by the Japanese public. Japan has attributed nearly 8,800 deaths to COVID-19 and has controlled the virus better than most countries.
“In order to give clarity to ticket holders living abroad and allow them to adjust their travel plans at this stage, the Japanese side have come to the conclusion that they will not be able to enter Japan at the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, “the Tokyo organizing committee said in a statement.
It is said that about a million tickets were sold to fans outside of Japan. Organizers have promised refunds, but it will be determined by so-called authorized ticket distributors who manage sales outside of Japan. These dealers charge commissions up to 20% above the ticket price. It is unclear whether the fees will be refunded.
“We could wait until the last minute to decide, except for the spectators,” said Seiko Hashimoto, the chairman of the organizing committee. “They have to insure accommodation and flights. Therefore, we must decide soon, otherwise we will cause them a lot of inconvenience. I know this is a very tough issue. “
IOC President Thomas Bach called it a “difficult decision.”
“We have to make decisions that may require sacrifices from everyone,” he said.
The financial burden of selling lost tickets falls on Japan. The local organizing committee’s budget raised $ 800 million in ticket sales, the third-largest source of revenue for the privately funded budget. Any budget deficit will have to be offset by Japanese government entities.
Overall, Japan officially spends $ 15.4 billion to host the Olympics. Several government audits say the actual cost can be double. All but $ 6.7 billion is public money.
About 4.45 million tickets were sold to residents of Japan. Organizers are expected to announce local capacity next month, which will be filled by local residents.
The ban on foreign fans comes just days before the Olympic torch relay begins on Thursday from Fukushima prefecture in northeastern Japan. It will last 121 days, touring Japan with 10,000 runners, and will end on July 23 at the opening ceremony at Tokyo National Stadium.
The relay will be a test for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, in which 15,400 athletes will enter Japan. They will be tested before leaving home, tested on arrival in Japan, and tested frequently while residing in a safe “bubble” in the athletes ’village next to Tokyo Bay.
Athletes will not have to be vaccinated to enter Japan, but they will.
In the middle of Saturday’s meeting, Bach and others received a reminder about an earthquake-stricken northeast of Japan, and Japan in general.
A strong earthquake shook Tokyo and sparked a tsunami warning when Bach and others made introductory comments before the virtual meeting. The force stood at 7.0 by the U.S. Geological Survey and the location was in northeastern Japan, an area affected by a huge earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
“I think the screen is shaking. You have noticed that the screen is shaking, “said Tamayo Marukawa, the Japanese Olympic minister, as he made his presentation visible from Tokyo talking remotely to Bach on a Swiss screen.” We are actually in the middle of an earthquake right now. “
Officials said there were no immediate reports of damage.