There will be no overseas spectators at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, due to significant health risks, Olympic officials and Japanese authorities said after an online meeting on Saturday.

The Olympic Games Organizing Committee announced on Saturday March 20 that due to the coronavirus epidemic, overseas spectators will not be allowed to attend the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for this summer. “In order to clarify the situation for ticket holders living abroad and to allow them to adjust their travel plans at this stage, the Japanese side have come to the conclusion that they will not be able to enter Japan at the time of the Games “, according to a statement specifying that the international Olympic bodies accepted this decision.

Tickets purchased outside of Japan will be refunded, according to the press release. The Olympics-2020, scheduled from July 23 to August 8, 2021, were postponed last year due to the global health crisis. The health situation in Japan and abroad remains “very difficult”.