The bombshell call comes in response to the COVID-19
pandemic, with fears an influx of visitors could potentially lead to a spike in
virus cases across the country.
Kyodo News said the government had concluded it was
"not possible" to allow spectators from abroad to attend the Tokyo
Games, which are already delayed by a year because of the pandemic.
This was due to "concerns among the Japanese public
over the coronavirus and the fact that more contagious variants have been
detected in many countries", Kyodo said, citing unnamed officials.
The Asahi Shimbun daily said the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) had asked Japan to make exceptions for overseas guests linked
to sponsors, and that the government was considering the request.
Despite a spike in infections this winter, Japan has had a
comparatively small outbreak overall, with about 8,300 deaths.
It has avoided imposing blanket lockdowns, but the Tokyo
area is currently under a state of emergency that requests bars and restaurants
close early.
Tokyo 2020 organisers have stressed that public safety will
be "top priority" at the Olympics, which are due to start on July 23.
Around 900,000 tickets have reportedly been sold outside
Japan.
Games organisers have said they plan to officially rule this
month on the matter of foreign fans - likely before the nationwide torch relay
begins on March 25.
Reports from Japan state that the start of the torch-relay
ceremony would probably be held without spectators, but fans would still be
able to line the route.
The Tokyo Games have proved a bitterly divisive topic domestically, with recent polls indicating the majority of Japanese people are against them going ahead.
A poll by the Yomiuri Shimbun published this week found that
more than 75 percent of Japanese opposed overseas fans attending the Games.
Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said Friday that
organisers "really want to hold the event in full stadiums with fans from
around the world".
But this would be difficult "if we're not in a position
where we can accept them and the situation with medical facilities isn't
perfect", she said.
Organisers have already laid out strict rules for the
nationwide torch relay, which was called off in 2020 after the historic
decision to postpone the Games by a year.
Reports said organisers feared crowding at the March 25
starting event in Fukushima, and would probably bar the 3,000 spectators
initially planned.
A spokesman for Tokyo 2020 organisers would say only that
"details of the (relay) Grand Start are still under discussion".
Organisers are also set to decide on limits on overall
spectator numbers in April.
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