OLYMPICS UPDATE: A FAREWELL TO THE INT'L FANS
Talk'OH! Tuesday
Written by Glenn Javier
The Tokyo 2020 [now 2021] Summer Olympics is already set for July 23, 2021, on a Friday given that its assumed postponement [for the nth time] was not even considered by the Japanese organizers and the IOC (International Olympic Committee). Apart from the ones mentioned in the previous #Tokyo2021 article like the "Spartan Games" and the so-called "Pandemic Playbook", there have been recently released updates on what's gonna happen. Unfortunately, the Summer Olympics won't allow international spectators.
Source: Variety | Photo from Aflo/Shutterstock
11,000 athletes are anticipated to compete in Tokyo for the Olympic Games this summer. However, there will ZERO fans from outside Japan as spectators from overseas will not be allowed to cheer in person. I think we all know why. COVID-19 is mutating and cases are still increasing with skyrocketing numbers on a daily basis. The same virus (during its early stages) postponed the games last year.
According to CBC's article, The decision was reported last Saturday after an online meeting of the IOC (International Olympic Committee), the Tokyo government, the Japanese government, the International Paralympic Committee, and other organizers. A few days after, it was announced that volunteers from abroad will not be permitted as well.
Following this, several polls in Japan have shown that up to 80% of the people surveyed oppose holding Tokyo 2021, and around the same percentage of individuals do not want international fans to attend.
Although vaccines have been distributed slowly to the public in recent months, there are fears of succeeding waves so not admitting fans from abroad is a preventive measure but also another repercussion of COVID. Japan has one of the best records in controlling the spread of the virus and I think that they want to keep it that way with this decision.
A statement on the Tokyo Olympics Website reads:
"Currently, the COVID-19 situation in Japan and many other countries around the world is still very challenging and a number of variant strains have emerged, whilst international travel remains severely restricted globally..."
It continued on by saying that it is highly unlikely for #Tokyo2021 ticket holders living outside Japan to be guaranteed entry into the country this summer. According to the organizers, 600,000 tickets were sold outside Japan. They have "promised" refunds but this will ultimately be decided by "Authorized Ticket Resellers" or the middlemen that handle international sales who unfortunately mark up the price and sell expensive package "deals" including accommodation.
Organizing Committee CEO Toshiro Muto said that organizers were not responsible for money lost on flights or hotel reservations, adding that these did not involve any "contract arrangement with Tokyo."
CTV News also published an article stating that IOC President Thomas Bach apologized when the decision was declared, saying it was a "difficult" one. But, like any other sports business, getting the Olympics on TV is what matters most given that they acquire most of their income by selling broadcast rights. So I'm guessing all athletes must be captured by the lenses?
About 4.45 million tickets were sold to Japanese residents and capacity for the venues is expected to be announced next month which will only be filled up by local residents, including the seats intended for thousands of fans abroad.
Vaccination of athletes before entering Japan is not necessary but most of them will be. And, as mentioned earlier, volunteers outside of Japan will not be allowed as well unless if they have "special" skills. But given the significant decline in in-person attendance, the need for volunteers is a bit unclear.
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This decision is made to ensure everyone's safety and we should all hope that in the next Olympic Games, fans, both local and international, will be screaming their hearts out for their favorite athletes from a distance.
Sources:
- CBC
- CTV
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