Fans barred from Tokyo Olympics due to Japan's COVID-19 state of emergency

There will be no spectators at this summer's Tokyo Olympic Games, following a state of emergency issued by the organizers on Thursday.

The ban was announced by the International Olympic Committee and Japanese organizers, implying that the games will be strictly a made-for-TV event. This comes in contrast to information received a few weeks earlier, when organizers said they would have the event with limited spectators.

"It is regrettable that we are delivering the games in a very limited format, facing the spread of coronavirus infections," Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said Thursday after talks between government officials, Tokyo organizers and Olympic and Paralympic representatives. "I am sorry to those who purchased tickets and everyone in local areas."

"Many people were looking forward to watching the games at the venues, but I would like everyone to fully enjoy watching the games on TV at home," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said after the meeting.

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Although fans from abroad were banned many months ago, there was still hope that local spectators would be allowed to attend the Games. However, the new measures announced by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will mean venues around Tokyo, indoor and outdoor, will not have any fans at all.

"Taking into consideration the impact of the delta strain, and in order to prevent the resurgence of infections from spreading across the country, we need to step up virus prevention measures," Suga said.

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Suga said the state of emergency would go into effect Monday and last through Aug. 22. This means the Olympics, opening on July 23 and running through Aug. 8, will be held entirely under emergency measures.