KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (NNN-Bernama) — The number of spectators for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to begin on July 23, will be capped at 50 per cent of venue capacity, up to a maximum of 10,000 people per venue, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Monday.
Students under the schools’ spectator programme and their supervisors will be counted separately as they are not spectators.
“The current competition schedule remains unchanged. In principle, spectators will be admitted to events subject to the above limits,” the IOC said in a statement.
The organisers had previously banned foreign spectators.
However, if the state of emergency or other priority measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic is implemented any time after July 12, further restrictions on the numbers, including non-spectator competitions, will be considered based on content of the measures in force at that time.
Under the guidelines, spectators are advised to wear face masks in venues at all times, prohibited from speaking in a loud voice or shouting; and leave venues in a staggered manner.
The IOC said spectators would also be requested to travel directly to venues and return home directly, and to take all necessary precautions when moving between prefectures.
The decision was taken during today’s meeting between the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and the Government of Japan (GoJ).
The IOC stated that in the event of any rapid changes in infection status and in the capacity of the medical care system, a five-party meeting would be held promptly to consider further measures.
“The situation will be monitored in Japan and abroad, including the status of the different variants of the coronavirus, and all necessary action will be taken promptly. Vaccination of those involved with the Games will continue, and the vaccination status will be further updated. A framework will be implemented to keep monitoring the status of infections and medical care using expert advice,” the IOC added.
Similar policies governing the Paralympics will be decided by July 16, a week before the opening of the Olympic Games, the IOC said.
— NNN-BERNAMA
