Story at a glance
- Olympic organizers are leaving the door open to the possibility of fans attending the Paralympic games, which are scheduled to begin Aug. 24.
- Games Minister Tamayo Marukawa announced Thursday the delayed Olympics would move forward without fans as new COVID-19 cases rise in Tokyo.
- “After the Olympics Games close — as soon as possible — we would like to make a decision,” Hashimoto said.
Olympic organizers are leaving the door open to the possibility of fans attending the Paralympic games scheduled to begin Aug. 24, two days after the conclusion of Japan’s most recent state of emergency.
Games Minister Tamayo Marukawa announced Thursday the delayed Olympics would move forward without fans as new COVID-19 cases rise in Tokyo. The decision reversed previous guidelines permitting domestic spectators to attend games events under strict rules and at 50-percent capacity.
But organizers are holding out hope for fan attendance at the Paralympics, and organizing committee President Seiko Hashimoto said at a briefing Thursday a decision will be made at the end of the upcoming Tokyo games, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
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“After the Olympics Games close — as soon as possible — we would like to make a decision,” Hashimoto said. “Because if it’s postponed any further it will impact the preparations for the Paralympics.”
The Paralympic games are expected to host roughly 4,400 athletes from across the globe.
Tokyo officials reported 822 new coronavirus cases Friday, marking the 20th straight day the number surpassed the mark from seven days prior, according to the AP. New cases reached a nearly two-month high on Wednesday at 920.
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International Olympic Committee Chair Thomas Bach said Thursday the official decision emphasized the organization’s commitment throughout the process to conduct a safe event.
“We have shown this responsibility since the day of the postponement,” Bach said. “And we will also show it today, and we will support any measure which is necessary to have a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games for the Japanese people and all the participants.”
Japan reported more than 2,200 new cases in the past day and 17 deaths — bringing the death toll to 14,865, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Meanwhile, nearly 16 percent of the country has been fully vaccinated.
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