Sports
Japan’s Suga Accepts Fan-Free Olympics in Bid to Control Virus
- Tokyo Governor Koike calls final decision “gut-wrenching”
- Capital returns to state of emergency as case numbers surge
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga accepted a last-minute decision to ban spectators from the Tokyo Olympics, setting the stage for an unprecedented games after facing pressure to better protect public health during a pandemic.
All events in Tokyo and surrounding areas will be held without fans, as the resurgence of virus cases pushed the government to declare a state of emergency in the capital and maintain restrictions in nearby prefectures. The joint decision by Olympic and government officials came after Suga declared a fourth state of emergency for Tokyo, running from July 12 through Aug. 22.