Just 16 days before the Tokyo Olympics, the Japanese government decided to declare a state of emergency to curb the spread of Covid-19. It is likely that the games will be played in the capital without spectators.
In the run-up to the Games, massive protests against the Olympics took place across Japan (AFP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Japanese government’s decision comes to curb rising Covid-19 cases
- Japan is considering ban on spectators, reduced numbers for certain events
- The Tokyo Olympics begin on July 23rd and last through August 8th
In a great shock for the preparations for the Olympic Games, the Japanese government imposed a state of emergency on Wednesday 16 days before the start of the Games to contain the Covid-19 infections. The Olympic Games in Tokyo, which were postponed last year, are set to begin on July 23 and last until August 8.
A state of emergency was declared from July 7th to August 22nd, a period that spanned the entire duration of the Olympic Games. The decision comes a day after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that his government would adopt new measures to stop the virus from spreading.
According to Kyodo, the Tokyo metropolitan government reported 920 new coronavirus cases on July 7. The number is the highest since mid-May, at the height of a fourth wave of infections in the country. It also surpasses the week before for the 18th day in a row.
The decision will affect the number of spectators who will be able to watch the games from the stands. As it turns out, the organizing committee could agree to a total ban on spectators for some events, particularly the one in Tokyo.
Organizers have already banned foreign viewers and set a cap for domestic viewers at 50% capacity, up to 10,000 people, in an effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
Decision on a possible ban on spectators is expected by Friday
Also as the voice of the opposition In order to host the Tokyo Games amid the growing pandemic, the International Olympic Committee had given assurances that it would do everything possible to make a safe Olympics possible. Medical experts believe banning spectators might be the least risky option when it comes to hosting the Games in Japan, which is grappling with a surge in Covid-19 infections.
The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee said the restrictions on viewers would be based on the content of the Japanese state of emergency coronavirus or other relevant measures.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said the host city will continue to prepare for “safe Olympics” even in a new state of emergency. A slow introduction of the vaccine has resulted in only a quarter of the Japanese population receiving at least one COVID-19 vaccination, according to Reuters.
The government will meet with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and Tokyo organizers on Thursday or Friday to discuss the issue of spectators.
Senior government spokesman Katsunobu Kato said this week that Suga had raised the possibility of holding the games without an audience.
Click here for IndiaToday.in’s full coverage of the corona pandemic.
إرسال تعليق