The governor of Tokyo has raised question over the future of the Olympic Games without an international travel and quarantine deal. She has also called for possible cuts to the opening and closing ceremonies. Yuriko Koike told Financial Times that freedom for athletes and supporters to visit the country was a precondition for holding Tokyo Games next year. Her remarks prove how the future of the Olympics still remains in jeopardy despite a one=uear deferment, especially considering the rise in number of COVID-19 cases.
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“A basic precondition for the Olympics is that the people of the world can come,” Koike said told Financial Times.
At present, foreigners who have visited 111 different countries are banned from entering Japan. Without an international deal to let athletes and spectators from all 206 competing nations attend, some events would lack their strongest competitors or most passionate fans. On whether the Tokyo Olympics were certain to go ahead, Koike said that they can only “hope” in these trying times and prepare for it.
“The costs of the extension aren’t just a matter for Tokyo, but for the national government, the IOC and the IPC. We all need to discuss this more. We will also need the support of the people of Tokyo,” she said.
Tokyo organisers have already been warned by the IOC that they would need to consider plans for a “very different” games if the pandemic was not under control worldwide. That could include limits to spectator numbers.
The Games will be held next year from July 23 to August 9. It will be followed by the Paralympics which are scheduled from August 24 to September 9.