Tokyo Olympics 2021: Overseas spectators banned for the event due to coronavirus

The spectators from overseas will not be allowed to attend the Tokyo Olympics, starting July this year, organisers said Saturday. While the organisers remain determined to hold the games, the COVID-19 will have its effect on the same, after they were delayed from their original date of July 2020, due to the pandemic.

This comes as a first big blow to the safe organisation of the Games this year as the danger of the pandemic still surrounds the successful arrangement of the world's largest sporting event.

While many polls in Japan have suggested that the majority of the population are not in favour of the games to be held this summer, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ensured the safety and security of participants as well as the local residents.

IOC president Thomas Bach encouraged the national organising committees to get the athletes vaccinated before time. However, the slow rollout of vaccines in the country might mean that not all of the local population get vaccinated before the July kick-off date.

The committee will also have the refund headache in front of them now as almost 10 to 20 percent of the crowds are the international ones and with them not being barred from the event, the committee faces a huge problem of management of revenues as well.

The 2021 Tokyo Olympics will begin on July 23 till August 8.