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Sports
Jaclyn Diaz, NPR and Anthony Kuhn, NPR

Tokyo Olympics will open its doors to a small fan base — COVID permitting

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The Olympic Rings near the National Stadium in Tokyo. Critics of the decision to allow local spectators into the games warn the huge event could lead to an increase in coronavirus infections.
Organizers for the Tokyo Olympics announced Monday they will allow some domestic fans to watch the games once they begin in July.
Eugene Hoshiko | AP

Organizers for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics announced they will allow some local spectators into each venue, as long as no state of emergency is in effect.

Up to 10,000 domestic fans will be allowed at events, or 50 percent of the venue's capacity, whichever is less, organizers said Monday.

The coronavirus situation in Japan has improved in recent weeks with increased vaccinations, though critics still believe it would be safer to close the games to all spectators.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga lifted a third state of emergency on Tokyo and other coronavirus restrictions in other regions last week.

Suga shared Monday that a push in the country's immunization program has resulted in at least 31 million inoculations to date. Now, an average of over 1 million people per day are getting shots in Japan, he said.

The push is due in part to loosened restrictions on who can receive shots and the opening of mass vaccination centers throughout the country.

Critics of the decision to allow local spectators into the Olympic games warned of the potential for the massive event to lead to an increase in infections. Government advisers say its safer to ban all spectators.

Underscoring the risk associated with holding the Olympics during an ongoing pandemic, was a report that an athlete traveling to Japan tested positive for the virus.

One athlete from Uganda tested positive at Narita airport outside Tokyo over the weekend and was denied entry into the country, according to NPR's Anthony Kuhn. The government says that athlete can enter the country after testing negative.

The unnamed athlete was part of a delegation of nine Ugandan athletes and coaches, competing in swimming, boxing and weightlifting. The rest of the Ugandans headed for a pregame training camp.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.