Tokyo Paralympics Held in 'Emergency' Area... Ultimately Following 'No Spectators Policy'

On the afternoon of July 29, at the Korea Paralympic Committee Icheon Training Center in Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Jeong Jin-wan, President of the Korea Paralympic Committee (left), is presenting the national flag to Joo Won-hong, the head of the South Korean delegation, at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics South Korean team send-off ceremony.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics will also be held under the 'no spectators' policy. However, only students will be allowed limited entry. This is the same approach as the previously held Tokyo Olympics.

On the evening of the 16th, the Japanese government and the organizing committee held an online meeting with representatives from Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and four other parties related to the Tokyo Paralympics, confirming the no spectators policy for all Paralympic venues.

The Tokyo Paralympics, which start on the 24th and conclude on the 5th of next month, will take place across four metropolitan areas: Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, and Shizuoka.

Currently, three areas?Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Saitama Prefecture, and Chiba Prefecture?are under a state of emergency, while Shizuoka Prefecture is subject to 'priority measures to prevent spread,' a stage before a state of emergency.

Shizuoka Prefecture is expected to be included in the state of emergency from the 20th.

Accordingly, all Paralympic events will be held in areas under a state of emergency.

Regarding the 'school-linked viewing program,' which allows local governments and schools to purchase tickets to provide elementary, middle, and high school students with opportunities to watch, it has been decided to permit this at all venues.

However, concerns have been raised that student attendance could lead to the spread of COVID-19. Nonetheless, Seiko Hashimoto, chairperson of the organizing committee, stated, "We can realize a safe and secure Games."

The Tokyo Olympics were also held without spectators. Although Prime Minister Suga expressed on several occasions his desire to hold the Paralympics with spectators, the surge in COVID-19 cases during the Olympics ultimately led to the cancellation of that plan.

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