On Thursday, organizers said the Tokyo Olympics will take place with no spectators as COVID-19 cases surge in Japan forcing the country ‘to declare a coronavirus state of emergency.’
“It is regrettable that we are delivering the Games in a very limited format, facing the spread of coronavirus infections,” Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto said following talks between government officials, Tokyo organizers and Olympic and paralympic representatives.
“I am sorry to those who purchased tickets and everyone in local areas.”
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said it was essential to prevent Tokyo, where the highly infectious delta Covid-19 variant was spreading, from becoming the source of another wave of infections.
