Tokyo Olympics: Number of spectators capped at 10k per venue

In what could be a good news for Olympics’ fans in Japan, the organisers of the upcoming Tokyo Olympics have decided to allow some local fans to attend the showpiece event, organising committee officials and the IOC announced on Monday.

A limit of 50 per cent of capacity up to a maximum of 10,000 fans for all Olympic venues has been set by the organisers.

The decision was announced after the so-called Five Party talks online with local organizers, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, the Japanese government and the government of metropolitan Tokyo.

The pfficials however, said that the local fans will be put under strict rules as they will be refrined from cheering, must wear masks and will be asked to go straight home after attending the events.

As per reports, 3.6-3.7 million tickets are in the hands of Japanese residents.

Earlier, Japan’s top medical adviser, Dr. Shigeru Omi had recommended that the Olympics should be held without fans as it would be the safest possible way.

Significantly, fans from abroad have already been banned.

Earlier, Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was in the favour of allowing fans and before the official announcement, he hd said that he would bar fans if conditions change.

“If a state of emergency is necessary, I will be flexible and open to no fans in order to achieve that the games give top priority to safety and security for the people,” Suga said.

“In case of a state of emergency, it is quite possible for safe and secure (games) I will not hesitate to have no fans,” he added.

Meanwhile, several polls recently have shown that a majority of Japan’s population is against the holding of the showpiece event, which is slated to begin on July 23 after being postponed last year due to the pamdemic.

News Desk

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