Top medical experts in Japan say the Tokyo Olympics is the safest way to hold the Olympics without fans.
Olympic organizers will announce next week that up to 10,000 local fans will be allowed into the games, according to the Associated Press, but Dr. Shigeru Omi, a former World Health Organization official, told the Japanese government in a report released Friday that he would advise against it.
“We believe that the risk of infection in venues would be lowest if the event had no fans,” said the report by 26 medical experts.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Omi said that “it would be very desirable not to have fans in the venues” as this increases the risk of the coronavirus spreading. “Whether or not the Olympics are being held, Japan faces an ongoing risk a resurgence of infections that are putting pressure on medical systems. “
More reports from the Associated Press can be found below:
Seiko Hashimoto, the president of the local organizing committee, said the final decision on the fans will likely be made on Monday at a meeting with organizers, the International Olympic Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Government and the International Paralympic Committee.
Hashimoto said that if Tokyo decides to let fans in, the rules will have to be much stricter than half-filled stadiums in Japan for baseball or soccer, and said organizers should be ready to suddenly ban local fans if conditions change .
“Dr. Omi has indicated that ideally the games are best played without spectators – that was his recommendation, “said Hashimoto.” But if we want to hold the games with spectators, Dr. Omi also his recommendations. “
Hashimoto said she consulted with baseball and soccer officials in Japan, where games with fans have been largely problem-free.
“But Dr. Omi also mentioned that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games are very special, ”said Hashimoto. Omi mentions that we have to be even stricter than the other sporting events. So we need to look at stricter rules. There is a risk that people will come to the games and stop by bars and restaurants after watching before going home. We therefore recommend that people go home immediately after watching the games. “
Ticket sales should generate $ 800 million in revenue for the organizing committee, much of which will be lost and government agencies will have to make up for the shortfall.
