World News

Tokyo Olympics Will Allow Spectators, Despite Advice From Doctors

The Tokyo Olympics announced Monday it will allow up to 10,000 Japanese spectators at each event, overriding doctors assertions the games would be safer without crowds, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The decision is an attempt to build excitement and enthusiasm ahead of the opening ceremony on July 23, the WSJ reported, despite concerns that not enough of the Japanese population is vaccinated. In March, foreign spectators were banned from attending and earlier this month, officials were still arguing over a potential cancellation of the games. 

Venue capacity will be limited at 50% with a maximum of 10,000 people, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and three Japanese parties said Monday in a joint statement. However, if infection rates and the capacity of the medical system worsen, the guidelines would be subject to change, the statement said.

Other guidelines require that masks be worn at all times, that congestion should be avoided, prohibit shouting or speaking in a loud voice, and says spectators should travel directly to and from venues, and leave in a staggered manner, the statement said.

Around 42% of tickets have been sold for the Olympics, but sales are above 50% for some events, the WSJ reported. To determine which ticket holder can attend an event where more tickets have been sold than the limits allow, organizers said they plan to hold a lottery and those who don’t get to attend the event will get a refund, the WSJ reported.

Stakeholders who include sponsors and sporting federation officials are not counted toward the 10,000 total, according to organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto, the Associated Press reported.

Japan’s vaccination effort remains behind many countries, with about 6.5% of Japanese fully vaccinated and 16.5% with at least one shot, the AP reported.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org

Kendall Tietz

Share
Published by
Kendall Tietz

Recent Posts

President Donald Trump’s Schedule for Monday, June 23, 2025

Schedule Summary: President Donald Trump will meet with his national security team on Monday. President…

5 hours ago

The US Has Just Bombed Iran

After months of doing everything diplomatically possible to avoid direct US involvement in the war…

1 day ago

The Democrat’s Insincere Condemnations of Dangerous Political Language

We’re at a tipping point in our country, if we continue with this increasingly violent…

2 days ago

China Tries Getting Rich In America’s Backyard

Some major Chinese companies are attempting to gain a foothold in new markets such as…

2 days ago

Trump May Have Secret Weapon To Ram DOGE Cuts Past Timid GOP Senators

The White House might leverage an obscure procedural tool to push through billions in spending…

2 days ago

Champions Of The Illegals Look More Like Chumps

Three of the best the Democrats have to offer appeared before Congress last week to…

2 days ago