Tokyo spectator ban leaves Olympic athletes perplexed
Japanese organizers have decided to
ban spectators from Olympic venues in a bid to stem an increase of COVID-19
infections
Whether it is sumo, or domestic
basketball, or baseball matches, Japanese fans have been filling the arenas in
recent days, leaving Olympic athletes wondering why they will be competing in
front of empty stands at the Tokyo Games.
Japanese organizers have decided to
ban spectators from venues of the Olympics, which start this week, in a bid to
stem an increase of COVID-19 infections, with the capital in a state of
emergency until August 22.
Foreign visitors were banned earlier
from attending the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games.
"A state of emergency has been
declared for Tokyo, and on July 9, we saw the decision was to ban spectators,"
Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi told an online media
roundtable on Monday. "Obviously, it is a decision that we respect."
"There was, however, one
sentence which was pleasing that should the situation change the situation could
be reviewed," Dubi said, referring to the organizers' statement on the
decision.
"That other sporting events now
have fans is a decision that belongs to local authorities. We must respect
that," Dubi said.
On Friday, Central League's 5-4 win
over the Pacific League in Game 1 of Japan's All-Star baseball series was
played in front of 8,992 masked fans at MetLife Dome outside Tokyo while.
At the same time, the Nagoya Grand
Sumo Tournament was staged with crowds in the stands of the Dolphin's Arena.
The International Olympic Committee
(IOC) has had to slash the numbers of officials attending the opening ceremony
on Friday to comply with health safety rules.
Some athletes, among them Japan's
football team men's captain, Maya Yoshida, question the decision to bar
spectators.
"A lot of people's tax money is
going to hold these Olympics," Yoshida recently. "Despite that,
people can't go and watch. So you wonder about who the Olympics is for and what
it is for."
Dubi said such questions should be
put to the organizers and local authorities.
"We have received questions
from a number of athletes who are observing the same. As far as the IOC is
concerned, we respect this decision and abide by this rule but you could
address this question to the organizing committee or the local
authorities," he said when asked by Reuters.
Dubi said there was still the
possibility that should the number of coronavirus cases drop, then organizers
could review the ban.