PM Suga: Tokyo Olympics Can Be Held Without Spectators

PM Jepang Yoshihide Suga. (Wikimedia Commons / Cabinet Public Relations Office, Cabinet Secretariat)

JAKARTA - The Tokyo 2020 Olympics can be held without spectators depending on the COVID-19 situation in Japan, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said this in his statement, Thursday 1 July.

The announcement comes as the Japanese government is considering reducing the number of spectators in stadiums, amid growing fears the Olympic games could trigger a spike in infections.

In addition, the Japanese government is likely to extend the state of emergency covering Tokyo and the three adjacent prefectures which was originally due to expire on July 11.

"I have said before, there may be no spectators. However, we will act with the safety and security of the Japanese people as our top priority," said PM Suga as quoted by Kyodo News Thursday, July 1.

Previously, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Committee decided last month to allow the number of spectators in a single stadium to be 50 percent of capacity, or an upper limit of 10,000 spectators, as part of security measures at the Olympics, which start on July 23.

But Tokyo has seen a spike in infections since the coronavirus state of emergency was lifted last month, fueling uncertainty over whether it will be possible to stage games with large numbers of fans.

The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 673 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, a day after its daily figure hit 700 for the first time since May 26.

PM Suga said any new decisions on how to handle local spectators at the venues would be made based on consensus among the five Olympic and Paralympic organizers, including the central and metropolitan governments. They had already decided in March to ban viewers from overseas.

The 10,000-person attendance limit depends on the capital city and other prefectures where the Olympics will be held out of a state of emergency before the opening of the games. However, government officials have floated the possibility of only allowing up to 5,000 spectators at the Olympic stadium if an extension is deemed necessary.

To note, the contingent of Tokyo Olympic athletes from various countries continues to come to Japan. More than 100 people landed on Thursday, according to the Cabinet Secretariat, including the German boxing and boat racing team, the Irish boxing team and the Australian football team. Meanwhile, around 400 athletes are scheduled to arrive on Sunday.