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the Tokyo Olympics impose very strict rules on their spectators

the organizers of the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday unveiled new rules for spectators of the “pandemic Olympics”, one month before the opening ceremony.

“The festive atmosphere will have to be removed”! Anxious to offer the Games in complete safety, the President of the Organizing Committee, Seiko Hashimoto, set the scene, while admitting that her teams will have to be “creative” to still fuel a positive atmosphere.

Olympic officials on Monday decided to allow a maximum of 10,000 local spectators per venue, but Ms Hashimoto warned them not to expect the kind of party Euro football fans are currently entitled to. example. “In Europe, the sites are full of celebrations,” she said. “Unfortunately, we may not be able to do the same.”

In Japan, spectators will have to meet several anti-Covid requirements to attend the Olympics. Anyone registering a body temperature above 37.5 degrees during two separate checks will be refused entry, as will anyone coughing or not wearing a mask, and with no possible refund if entry is refused.

Once inside, spectators will be able to applaud, but will not have the right to cheer the athletes or “come into direct contact with other spectators”, and will be advised to return home after the games. competitions.

It will also be prohibited to ask athletes for autographs or “to express verbal support”, to wave a towel or to engage in “any form of cheering likely to create a crowd”.

At the Olympics, spectators will also have to do without alcohol, which is allowed at other sporting events currently taking place in Japan. This ban was decided “to alleviate as much as possible the concerns of the public”, explained the president of Tokyo-2020.

“People can feel joy in their hearts, but cannot be loud and have to avoid crowds,” she said, adding, “We are putting a lot of effort into finding a new way to celebrate.”

These Games, somewhat stripped down, will highlight the “true values” of the Olympic movement, underlined Ms. Hashimoto, recalling that in recent years, “some have been worried” that the Olympic Games have “become so massive”. Seiko Hashimoto, 56, participated in the 1980s and 1990s in four Winter Olympics as a speed skater, winning a bronze medal at the Albertville Games in 1992. She also competed in three summer Olympics as a speed skater. as a track cyclist. Until February, she was a minister in the Japanese government. The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled from July 23 to August 8. Very strict measures have also been imposed on athletes who will undergo daily anti-Covid tests and will be kept away from the public. In recent months, the organizers have done everything to give pledges to a wary, even hostile Japanese population.

Tokyo Olympics: 10,000 spectators maximum allowed on competition venues

In March, they announced that overseas spectators would be banned from the Games – a first in Olympic history – and on Monday they allowed the public residing in Japan, but at 50% of the capacity of each site and within a maximum limit of 10,000 people.

“It will obviously be nicer than empty stands”, rejoiced Benoît Binon, national technical director of the French archery team, calculating that with a 50% gauge, “it should make 2,750 spectators. on the site, which is not bad compared to what we usually know about our competitions ”.

The organizers are on high alert on issues of Covid-19. On Saturday, a Ugandan coach tested positive on arrival in Japan, despite the team reportedly having been vaccinated and tested negative before departure. On Monday, the delegation was placed in quarantine until July 3. The hectic pace of preparations had a direct impact on Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who was hospitalized on Tuesday due to exhaustion.

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