Tokyo Olympics: Organisers reveal how many spectators are allowed to watch 2020 Games

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games mascot Miraitowa poses with the Olympic Symbol.

Organisers of the Tokyo Olympic Games have fixed spectator limits for the event at 50 per cent of a venue’s capacity, up to a maximum of 10,000.

The decision was taken following a meeting on Monday morning involving local organisers, the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees, the Tokyo metropolitan government and the national government.

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At a glance: 5 key points

- Spectators must refrain from shouting or speaking loudly and must travel direct to the venue and return immediately home afterwards

- Delegates and sponsors would be classed as organisers, and therefore not part of the spectator cap

- The limit could be further reduced after July 12, based on the provisions of any state of emergency or other anti-infection measures

- Spectators won’t be requested to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test

- No overseas spectators are allowed

What’s been said

Asked why they had gone against the advice of public health expert Dr Shigeru Omi, Tokyo 2020 organising committee president Seiko Hashimoto said: said: “There are so many cases, domestically and internationally (of) sports events with spectators.

“By exercising thorough measures and based on the government criteria, we believe we can hold the Games with spectators.

“The entire world is facing the same issues and we have to work together to overcome them.”

Background

Japan’s top coronavirus advisor had told organisers on Friday that the best way to limit the risk of spread was to hold the events behind closed doors, but organisers have opted to follow the existing government limits for sports events in the country.

Japan has largely avoided the kind of explosive coronavirus outbreaks that have devastated other countries, but its vaccine roll-out has been slow and the medical system pushed to the brink in some places.

Japan's public remains opposed to holding the Games this summer, a poll from June 19 to 20 by the Asahi News Network (ANN) found, with 65% of respondents saying they wanted the event postponed again or cancelled.