Seiko Hashimoto, chairman of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee, is holding a press conference after completing the advisory committee in Tokyo on the 3rd. Tokyo = AP Newsis
During the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to be held in July and September this year, it is highly likely that foreign sports fans, including Korea, will not be able to visit the local area. While the Japanese government is coordinating whether to accept overseas spectators with the event organizing committee, Japanese media reported that there is high pessimism within the government due to concerns about the spread of a novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) and a mutant virus.
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun on the 4th, the government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Olympic Organizing Committee, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) held a meeting in the city of Tokyo on the previous day and decided whether to accept overseas spectators in March. Agreed to do. Specifically, it is planned to be decided before the 25th of this month, when the torch relay first begins. The upper limit of the total number of spectators, including domestic spectators, was decided in April.
Japanese media said at the meeting that the government expressed a prudent opinion on the acceptance of overseas spectators. Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Minister Marukawa Tamayo said, “Amid the unpredictable impact of the mutant virus, the situation in the future is very difficult to predict, so careful judgment is necessary,” the Asahi Shimbun said. A high-ranking official at the Prime Minister’s residence also reported that “it is very difficult to receive a foreign audience.”
The Yomiuri Shimbun also said that there is a growing opinion that “accommodation of foreign audiences is difficult” within the government, and the executive of the event organizer said, “If Japan decides to give up attracting foreign customers, the IOC and IPC will also respect.” The organizers of the event want to determine the number of spectators as soon as possible. This is because more than 900,000 overseas tickets have already been sold, and if you give up accepting foreign spectators, your business such as refunds becomes complicated.
The Japanese government has suspended new entry from all over the world in January this year, declaring an emergency due to the rapid spread of Corona 19. The emergency situation in other areas was lifted from the 1st of this month, but the remaining 4 areas in the metropolitan area are expected to be extended for two weeks. Japanese media predict that even if the capital area is completely lifted, the immigration suspension will continue for some time due to concerns about the influx of mutated viruses. However, the Tokyo Olympics-related athletes and competition officials will be allowed to enter the country.
Tokyo= Jinjoo Choi Correspondent [email protected]
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