Sports

Tokyo Olympics Will Allow Spectators, Despite Advice From Doctors

(Photo by BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images)

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Kendall Tietz Education Reporter
Font Size:

The Tokyo Olympics announced Monday it will allow up to 10,000 Japanese spectators at each event, overriding doctors’ assertions the games would be safer without crowds, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The decision is an attempt to build excitement and enthusiasm ahead of the opening ceremony on July 23, the WSJ reported, despite concerns that not enough of the Japanese population is vaccinated. In March, foreign spectators were banned from attending and earlier this month, officials were still arguing over a potential cancellation of the games. (RELATED: Coalition Pushes To Boycott Beijing Olympic Games, Citing Treatment Of Uyghurs, Tibetans And Hong Kongers)

Venue capacity will be limited at 50% with a maximum of 10,000 people, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and three Japanese parties said Monday in a joint statement. However, if infection rates and the capacity of the medical system worsen, the guidelines would be subject to change, the statement said.

Other guidelines require that masks be worn at all times, that congestion should be avoided, prohibit shouting or speaking in a loud voice, and says spectators should travel directly to and from venues, and leave in a staggered manner, the statement said.

 The New National Stadium, the main stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is pictured on July 24, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

The New National Stadium, the main stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is pictured on July 24, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Around 42% of tickets have been sold for the Olympics, but sales are above 50% for some events, the WSJ reported. To determine which ticket holder can attend an event where more tickets have been sold than the limits allow, organizers said they plan to hold a lottery and those who don’t get to attend the event will get a refund, the WSJ reported.

Stakeholders who include sponsors and sporting federation officials are not counted toward the 10,000 total, according to organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto, the Associated Press reported.

Japan’s vaccination effort remains behind many countries, with about 6.5% of Japanese fully vaccinated and 16.5% with at least one shot, the AP reported.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.