Tokyo Olympics, Audience Cap Under Review to Lower Limit of 5,000

40% of All Sessions Expected to Proceed Without Spectators
Discussion Scheduled on the 8th Regarding Changes to Spectator Admission Policy

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The Japanese government is reportedly considering holding 40% of the Tokyo Olympic Games, which open on the 23rd, without spectators and lowering the spectator limit for events with audiences from 10,000 to 5,000.

According to major foreign media on the 4th, the Japanese government and the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee are considering allowing spectators for events with fewer than 5,000 ticket purchasers, while holding events such as the opening and closing ceremonies, baseball, soccer, and athletics with more than 5,000 ticket holders without spectators.

Additionally, there is consideration to hold events taking place after 9 p.m. without spectators.

If this is implemented, it is reported that 40% of the sessions (based on time slots), which are the units for ticket sales, will be held without spectators. The total number of sessions for the Tokyo Olympics is 750.

The reason the Japanese government and the organizing committee are considering this plan is that the likelihood of lifting the COVID-19 "Priority Measures to Prevent Spread" applied to Tokyo Metropolis, the host city of the Olympics, after its deadline on the 11th has decreased.

The number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tokyo on the previous day was 716, the highest in 38 days since recording 743 cases on May 26.

Among the nine prefectures under priority measures, which are one step below a state of emergency, the four metropolitan area local governments?Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama?are expected to have the priority measures extended for up to about one month.

The spectator limit for large-scale events in areas under priority measures set by the Japanese government is "up to 50% capacity and a maximum of 5,000 people."

Previously, on the 21st of last month, the Japanese government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the organizing committee, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) held an online five-party meeting regarding Tokyo Olympic spectators and decided to allow spectators up to 50% of venue capacity with a maximum of 10,000 people.

Meanwhile, the five-party meeting scheduled for the 8th will discuss whether to change the spectator policy set at that time. The Japanese government will also hold a COVID-19 task force meeting on the same day to decide whether to extend the priority measures for the nine prefectures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.