THE Tokyo Olympics will take place in a state of emergency – increasing the likelihood it will be entirely behind closed doors.
When overseas fans were banned earlier this year it was still envisaged that domestic crowds of up to 10,000 spectators could attend events.
But with Covid cases in Tokyo rising rapidly – and just 25 per cent of Japan’s adult population having received a single dose of the vaccination – the government have declared a state of emergency across the city, a move which will kibosh any hope of fans being there.
Tokyo has been put under THREE previous states of emergency.
But the new will last until August 22 – a fortnight after the end of the Games which officially open on July 23.
Government leaders have just confirmed the new regulations.
They will force restaurants to shut early, effective curfews for many and strictly limit the sale of alcohol in Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa.
Wednesday saw 920 new cases of Covid in Tokyo, the highest daily tally since May 13.
It is likely that only VIPs will be allowed to attend the gala Opening Ceremony and parade of nations in the Olympic Stadium on July 23.
Japanese Government officials are also seeking to slash the number of dignitaries in the sparse crowd.
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However, the International Olympic Committee is pushing hard for some sponsors, guests and diplomats to attend.
But it now seems certain that all events will be entirely fan-free, with a final decision expected later today.
Team GB have already flown out to the Far East to finish their preparations ahead of the rearranged Games.
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