As of last week, the organizing committee
for the Tokyo Summer Olympics was still deciding on whether or not to risk
allowing foreign spectators into the metropolis and the Games venues, or to ban
them and keep their own situation with the COVID-19 pandemic under some
control. Despite appeals from some international athletics groups, it was
ultimately decided and made official by the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) that only people in Japan will spectate at the Games. It was a solid blow
to the hoped-for international character of the Olympics as promised back in the
conclusion of Rio 2016. Still, Japan’s organizers want to throw international
Olympics fans a bone.
According to Inquirer.net, in return for overseas fans no longer permitted to
come to Japan for the one-year postponed 2020 Summer Olympics, Japanese spectators
will be enjoined by organizers to cheer equally for “all the athletes of the
world.” This was remarked on by Tokyo sports director Mikako Kotani, describing
the harsh but necessary ban as a loss of harmony and diversity. “I want to make
sure the athletes don’t feel that it’s only Japanese fans in the venues,” says
Kotani, adding that the Japanese fans can be inspired to act like the whole
world in cheering the Olympians universally.
Tokyo 2020/1 is the first modern
Olympic Games that will have no spectators arriving from outside the host
country. Even family members of participating athletes may well be barred from
joining their athlete relatives, as explained by Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto.
About the only exception to this stringent ruling is allowing under a thousand
foreign volunteers, most of which possesses “expert and specialized knowledge”
to ensure the smooth operations of the various Olympic events.
“Japanese people hold fair play
and hospitality very dear, and we will root for all athletes equally,” promised
director Kotani on behalf of the organizing committee and Japan. “It might look
like everyone is Japanese, but we want to raise the awareness of Japanese fans
so that it feels like Tokyo is the whole world.”
While initially, Japanese polls
show the country’s citizens are apathetic or opposed to continuing the Olympics
in the middle of the pandemic, support for the upcoming Games has revived,
along with agreement on the decision to ultimately keep foreign spectators out.
The Olympic torch relay is set to begin this week, with the Olympics proper no
longer budging from its July 23 opening ceremony date. The now-banned overseas
spectators who have purchased tickets for the various Tokyo Games venues will
be given a full refund.
Image from Travel + Leisure
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