On the Scene: Tokyo Stakeholders Meet, Foreign Spectators Unlikely

(ATR) On a day when the leaders of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games met with their key partners, rumors gained traction that the Olympics are expected to take place without any international fans in attendance.

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The postponed Tokyo Olympics, which will take place in just five months, have been hotly-debated by the Japanese public as their domestic COVID-19 vaccine roll out has been slow and hit by logistical errors.

Japanese newspaper Mainichi reported on Wednesday that the decision has already been made to exclude international fans from attending the Olympics.

A final decision is expected to be announced within weeks.

There was no confirmation of the spectator decision in public remarks from key stakeholders who gathered for their regular meeting Wednesday. The virtual meeting included IOC president Thomas Bach, International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons, newly installed Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto, her new successor as Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa and Yuriko Koike, Tokyo Metropolitan Governor.

Bach saluted Hashimoto and Marukawa for their new roles for Tokyo 2020.

"Congratulations to the new President of Tokyo 2020, Ms. Seiko Hashimoto, especially for the many initiatives she has already started, especially with gender equality in the organizing committee as well the delivery of an excellent report to the IOC Executive Board.

"Also, congratulations and welcome to the Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Tamayo Marukawa. I remember well the meeting of the occasion of Rio 2016 Olympics. It’s great to see you again and to have you on board of the organization of successful Tokyo Olympics.

"Welcome to the Tokyo Governor and I thank you for your steadfast commitment to the Olympics and for all the measures you have undertaken there. It’s appreciated everywhere what you did with the COVID countermeasures to protect the Tokyo population and to make an essential contribution to the success of the Olympic Games. We cannot only look at participants of the Olympic Games, we want to show solidarity with the population of Japan and Tokyo," said Bach.

Hashimoto said she welcomes the support and solidarity of the IOC to deliver safe Olympics and Paralympics.

"The last two weeks have flown by. To the Governor and Minister I have good contact with you both. On the day I became President, we have discussed a Tokyo model, the result of the operations of the Games regarding safety and COVID measures and we will pay attention to the variant, we will take all countermeasures possible.

"We will appreciate the people responsible for running all events, we will revise the playbook, we will take new measures as well, it will be discussed with stakeholders the areas of gender equality and an inclusive society and concrete action should start immediately," said Hashimoto.

Minister Marukawa said she the emergence of female leaders for Tokyo 2020 is a positive development.

"I am pleased to see three out of five people in this meeting are women. In order to align the success of the Games this summer, we need to bring a safe environment, a safety first Games. We are united in our dedication to take all measures possible.

"There are heightened concerns in Japan about new variants of the virus and we must reassure everyone. That’s why this meeting is so important in terms of messaging and I want to engage in a fruitful discussion. Diversity and harmony are the concepts of our Games and gender balance is important. Gender equality will be a great legacy and we hope it will lead to an inclusive society," Marukawa said.

IPC President Andrew Parsons offered his thanks to the Tokyo team and pledged support for the measures being taken to deliver safe Games.

"The IF’s have developed fair groupings for sporting events, many international sports events have taken place while more than 85 countries are rolling out vaccines. Every experience at Games will be different, with no exceptions. The IPC is committed to do its utmost for a successful Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

"We are 100 percent behind all groups, for us only two area are non-negotiable, that accessibility must be not an issue and healthy and safety is paramount as the number one priority for all participants and the Japanese population," said Parsons.

Tokyo Governor Koike made clear in her remarks that she is committed to delivering the Olympics and Paralympics.

"We want to act as one team and to ensure the success of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. IOC President Bach talked about a safety first Games and we have to have solid preparation including stringent countermeasures for COVID-19.

"We need thorough implementation of measures. I will fully discharge my responsibility in our host city for the Olympic Games," said Koike.

Reported from Tokyo by Mark Pickering.