JAKARTA - International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach admits the Tokyo Olympics will feel different because it will be held behind closed doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has promised athletes the event will draw billions of digital viewers globally.
Bach's statement was in response to the Tokyo Olympic committee's decision to decide on Thursday that the Games from July 23 to August 8 would be held without spectators because a spike in COVID-19 cases forced the Japanese government to impose a state of emergency in the capital throughout the event.
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"This has been very difficult and everyone regrets the consequences for both athletes and spectators," Bach said from Tokyo in a video message to athletes.
"But this is a decision that must be taken to ensure the safety of the Olympics. I hope we all agree that the most important thing is that the Olympics continue," he added.
In the absence of spectators, Japan now has to bury hopes of the excitement and splendor of the Tokyo Olympics.
In fact, the Japanese government and the Tokyo Olympic committee have long hoped that the event would be a stage for the successful recovery of the country from the 2011 great earthquake that caused a nuclear accident.
While overseas audiences have been ruled out for months, this latest decision will clearly cost organizers millions of dollars.
The IOC hopes that significant improvements in the visual production aspects of the Tokyo Olympics, particularly in Japan and its largest market, the United States, will help minimize the detrimental impact of this latest decision.
"Things will take place in very different circumstances, but you don't have to feel alone on the pitch," said Bach.
"Billions of people around the world will be staring intently at the screen of their device. I hope you can feel that support," he added.
The IOC said the Tokyo Olympics would be broadcast globally with a potential audience of up to 5 billion people, thanks to a significant increase in broadcast rights compared to previous editions on both conventional and digital TV.
"We wish a great Tokyo Olympics under these special conditions," he said.
"Tokyo is ready with various extraordinary venues. The athletes can finally come and concentrate as they should in the Olympics, namely to compete," concluded Bach.
The Tokyo Olympics were originally scheduled to take place in 2020 and have been postponed by a year due to the pandemic, but the host public is concerned that the event will continue in the midst of the pandemic.
A recent local media poll showed 35 percent of residents wanted the Tokyo Olympics to be held behind closed doors, 26 percent with a limited audience while another 34 percent wanted to cancel or postpone it again.
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