In a decision that reflects the legitimate concerns of the Japanese public about a potential COVID-19 outbreak, Japan will go forward with the 2021 Olympic and Paralympics games in July and August without foreign spectators. Via Reuters, the Kyodo news agency reports that:
"....the government had concluded that welcoming fans from abroad would not be possible given public concern about the coronavirus and the detection of more contagious variants in many countries, Kyodo cited the officials as saying.
The opening ceremony of the torch relay would also be held without spectators, Kyodo said.
'The organising committee has decided it is essential to hold the ceremony in the northeastern prefecture of Fukushima behind closed doors, only permitting participants and invitees to take part in the event, to avoid large crowds forming amid the pandemic,' Kyodo said, quoting the officials." (our emphasis)
Putting public health first, the decision may mean some loss of revenue from tourists, although world wide tourism has been off significantly during the pandemic and would likely have remained so. Moreover, in 2018, foreign visitors to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, accounted for only 20% of ticket sales. In a poll taken, the Japanese public opposed having an influx of foreign visitors for the games by a margin of 77% to 18%.
