Tokyo Olympics: No Spectators in the Stands

By George Winslow
published

Decision was made after Japan declared a Covid-19 state of emergency

IOC
(Image credit: IOC)

TOKYO—Faced with a rising number of Covid-19 cases, the Japanese government has declared a state of emergency and the organizers of the Tokyo Olympics have announced that the games will go forward with no fans in the venues. 

In a release to the press, the International Olympic Committee expressed deep regret “for the athletes and for the spectators that this measure had to be put in place.”

Following the decision by the Government of Japan (GoJ) to announce a state of emergency in Tokyo, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and the GoJ met to discuss the issue and concluded that there would be no spectators at the venues, the release noted. 

The joint statement from those five parties also said that a decision about spectators at the Paralympic Games would be made after the close of the Olympics. 

George Winslow
George Winslow

George Winslow is the senior content producer for TV Tech. He has written about the television, media and technology industries for nearly 30 years for such publications as Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News and TV Tech. Over the years, he has edited a number of magazines, including Multichannel News International and World Screen, and moderated panels at such major industry events as NAB and MIP TV. He has published two books and dozens of encyclopedia articles on such subjects as the media, New York City history and economics.