No spectators for Tokyo Paralympics as coronavirus infections continue to climb in Japan

The Tokyo Paralympics will be held behind closed doors due to the rising number of Covid-19 infections in the host city and the other areas scheduled to host competitions.

The decision was made on Monday during a meeting between the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, and the Japanese national government.

The IPC said it agreed with the Japanese policy in regards to spectators.

The Paralympics, which begin on August 24, are being staged in Tokyo and the prefectures of Chiba, Saitama and Shizuoka. There had been a hope that fans could attend the cycling events in Shizuoka, but on Monday that prefecture’s governor asked the central government to expand the current state of emergency already in place in the other areas to include Shizuoka.

Students from local schools participating in a government-backed educational program might still be able to attend. The organizing committee said in a statement “safety measures will be taken in order to facilitate spectating in cases where local authorities or school administrations request this in response to the wishes of parents and others”.

Organizers also requested that the general public refrain from coming out to watch the road event competitions.

The Olympics, which concluded on August 8, were held with almost no spectators. Tokyo has been under a coronavirus state of emergency since July 12 but cases continue to increase.

The Paralympics are expected to feature about 4,400 athletes from nearly 160 countries. Afghanistan’s two athletes will not be able to compete, according to the IPC, because they are unable to fly out of the country amid the Taliban takeover of the government there.

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