Tokyo Olympics 2021 To Be Held Sans Foreign Spectators

The Japanese government has decided to stage Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics 2021 without overseas spectators due to COVID-19, Kyodo news agency said on Tuesday, citing officials with knowledge of the matter, The Indian Express (TIE) reported.

Kyodo said the government had concluded that welcoming fans from abroad would not be possible given public concern about the coronavirus and the detection of more contagious variants in many countries.

The Japanese government and the Japanese organizing committee of the Games are expected to hold a remote meeting with the International Olympic Committee and two other bodies later this month to make a formal decision on the issue of overseas visitors, according to the report.

The Olympics are due to take place between July 23 and August 8, followed by the Paralympics from August 24 to September 5, 2021.