Tokyo Paralympics Likely to Have No Spectators

From Jiji

August 11 2021

TOKYO – The Tokyo Paralympics are highly likely to have no spectators in principle as the novel coronavirus continues to rage, especially in the Tokyo metropolitan area, now under a COVID-19 state of emergency. 

While shutting out general spectators, the government is exploring ways to realize programs to allow elementary to high school students to watch Paralympic events live, sources said.

The government plans to decide the spectator policy as early as next week in a meeting with the Tokyo metropolitan government, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee and others. The 13-day Paralympics are set to open on Aug. 24.

“We’ll make the utmost efforts to realize safe and secure Paralympics,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told U.S. President Joe Biden in their telephone talks Tuesday, held after the Tokyo Olympics ended Sunday.

Suga has shown his strong wish to allow spectators at Paralympic venues if the coronavirus infection situation improves in Tokyo and other areas.