WOW! Japan to Host Fans at Tokyo Olympics 2021 Despite Growing COVID-19 Concerns
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via Reuters
The Olympic Rings monument is seen outside the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) headquarters near the National Stadium, the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games that have been postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Tokyo, Japan June 23, 2021 on the day to mark one month until the opening of the Olympic Games. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Tokyo Olympics 2021 is happening after a one-year postponement because of the COVID-19 vaccine. But the coronavirus is still ever-present and hence the officials have banned foreign spectators. However, 10,000 in-house Japanese fans are allowed, but now because as cases have again risen, the Olympics again have to deal with it.
via Reuters
Tokyo Olympic Games. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
Cases now have again started to rise in Tokyo. The one-week average has increased to 537 with the daily cases over 600 in the fast few days. Hence the Tokyo Governor, Yuriko Koike, has kept holding the Olympics without spectators as well. Koike said: “There is no more important time for Tokyo than now.”
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Will Tokyo Olympics 2021 happen behind closed doors?
2021 has been a troublesome period because Tokyo earlier saw over 1000 daily cases in January. And there were a lot of speculations and concerns over the cancelation of the Olympics. The Japanese government faced severe criticism from its people over the happening of the Olympics during the pandemic. And after pondering over the matter, the organizers decided to allow 50 percent of fans at venues or a maximum of 10,000. No foreign fans allowed.
via Getty
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games mascot Miraitowa poses with the Olympic Symbol. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon – Pool/Getty Images)
However, now as cases have started to rise again the organizers might be forced to conduct the Olympics without any spectators. Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee has said that the organizers are ready for any eventuality and will act upon the government’s order.
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“I don’t know what will happen to the infection situation that changes from day to day, but the organizing committee will be prepared (to hold the games) without spectators and be able to correspond to any policy that may be shown,” Hashimoto said.
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It will be a huge bummer for everyone if the Olympics happen without fans. The organizers have invested a lot in improving fan’s experience with the help of Robots, 5G, etc. If fans aren’t there then it will be wasted, but safety is obviously a priority and hence it is important to take that harsh decision.
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