Will spectators be allowed at Tokyo Olympics? All you need to know

The emergency restrictions, which were imposed in late April to stop the spread of coronavirus, in Japan are set to be lifted on June 20, a month before the nation will kick off Tokyo Olympics. However, there will be set new restrictions in place that might limit spectators at Games events. 

Until July 11, Japan will implement “quasi-measures” in seven areas, including Tokyo. The national capital city is likely to maintain strict limits on the number of spectators at large events. Tokyo Olympics is scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8 this year.

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Here’s what you should know about the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and spectators cap at events:

– The Japanese government on Wednesday has approved an upper limit of spectators at 10,000 in the areas with no restrictions. The current restrictions allow 5,000 spectators or 50 percent of venue capacity, whichever is smaller.

– It is not yet decided how many spectators will be allowed at Tokyo Olympics. The organisers will decide in the coming days on if any, or if yes then, how many domestic fans will be allowed to attend the Games events. 

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– Due to restrictions, Olympics organisers are no longer selling tickets, and are weighing a lottery system to determine who among the current ticketholders will be able to attend the events, reported news agency Kyodo. 

– Before the games were postponed last year, millions of tickets were sold. While the amount of several hundreds of tickets were refunded after the postponement, the current number of ticketholders is likely to exceed the spectator caps at many events. 

– Since Olympics preparations kicked off, the organisers are trying to build confidence among people that the games will be safe for participants and the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

– The updated coronavirus rulebook says that if athletes don’t comply with daily testing and mask-wearing rules, they could be expelled from the Games. 

– More than 80% of athletes will be vaccinated, the organisers have said, and that they will be barred from meeting the local audience. 

– There is a slight shift in public opposition to the Games happening amid pandemic now, as recent polls suggest more are now in favour of the Tokyo Olympics going ahead.